For Immediate Release

Friday, November 1, 2002

ILWU CALLS FOR FULL DISCLOSURE OF SECRET ADMINISTRATION MEETINGS WITH PMA

Union Says Bringing Only One Side to Table Suggests Collusion with Companies

In a letter sent today to Attorney General John Ashcroft, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) called on the Department of Justice to conduct a full investigation into the apparent collusion between the Bush Administration, shipping companies and associations during the West Coast ports contract dispute.  In particular, the ILWU asked the Department of Justice to release the names of individuals who attended secret meetings with the Administration regarding the Pacific Maritime Association’s (PMA) dispute with the union. 

“This Administration has a well-known penchant for secrecy.  The American public has a right to know why the Administration took the unprecedented action to undermine our workers who are ready, willing and able to work, but were not allowed on the docks,” said James Spinosa, ILWU President.  “The White House’s well-known habit of putting corporate interests over the rights of average working Americans seems to have once again reared its ugly head, and this time, they are not going to be able to keep it a secret.”

The letter emphasized that there is a considerable amount of evidence currently in the public record that indicates that government officials collaborated with certain business officials and groups to develop specific strategies and plans to weaken the bargaining power of the ILWU in collective bargaining with the PMA.  The secret meetings, which occurred prior to the President’s imposition of the Taft-Harley injunction, included PMA and other members of the West Coast Waterfront Coalition (WCWC), but did not include any worker representation.

In the letter, ILWU notes that “while we fully appreciate the legitimacy and right of every individual and group to lobby government officials, the evidence at hand suggests that in this particular situation discussions between government and business officials crossed the legal and ethical line from lobbying to actual joint planning and coordinated actions to affect the outcome of contract negotiations between the ILWU and the PMA on the West Coast.  It is this legal and ethical concern that warrants a full and impartial investigation.”

In a Freedom of Information Act request the ILWU also asked the Department of Justice to release all Administration records related to the West Coast longshore contract negotiations, including correspondence between government officials, meeting minutes, notes and other documents. 

For more information call ILWU Communications Director Steve Stallone at 415-775-0533 ext. 114 (office) or 510-390-4748 (cell) or see www.ilwu.org.