West Coast ILWU Contract Campaign

Weekly Member Update:  Nov. 7, 2002

Negotiation Update:   After reaching tentative agreement on a technology/jobs package, we moved on to pensions this week.  On Tuesday, though, the PMA requested a week’s break in bargaining.  The mediator agreed to the request, so we will return to the table on Wednesday, November 13.

Republican Victory a Major Concern for Working People:  Republicans took control of the U.S. Senate this week, which leaves the ILWU and the rest of the American labor movement in a precarious position.  For the first time in decades, Republicans have emerged from a midterm election with control of the presidency and both houses.  ``Business is better off today than it was yesterday,'' Bernadette Budde, a vice president at the National Association of Manufacturers told Reuters Wednesday.  Leading Republicans have already indicated that they are considering anti-labor legislation, and could pursue it as soon as this month during the lame duck session.  We must elevate the struggle in the face of this added threat to the labor movement.  The future of the ILWU and all working people lies in the balance.  Please make sure to talk to officials at your local to learn more about the ILWU political action fund, which is more important than ever.  Your $50 contributions will help us to fight the anti-union efforts we are facing.

ILWU Members Return from Political Battleground States:  We are proud to say that we sent more than 30 ILWU members to key battleground states to fight for pro-ILWU U.S. Senate candidates.  These ILWU activists from up and down the coast showed their commitment to fighting for workers’ rights by taking time away from home to work long hours on the campaign trail.  Though it was not a good day at the polls for many of our candidates, our involvement has helped to build connections with the national labor movement.  We heard many positive comments from AFL-CIO leaders regarding the good work our members did on the campaign trail.  Hopefully, our members will continue to be involved in many important political activities in the future.

Port Oversight Committees Move Forward:  With the November 5 elections complete, local officials up and down the coast will accelerate efforts to provide oversight at the major ports.  In the coming days, committees in Los Angeles, Seattle/Tacoma and the San Francisco Bay Area will begin visiting the docks and unveiling their plans to monitor and report on safety, congestion and the state of technology on West Coast docks.  Contact officials at your local to learn more about the oversight efforts in your area.

PMA Member Companies Divided:  According to an article published in the Journal of Commerce this week, a “faction” within the PMA is attempting to sabotage the current contract negotiations in order to prevent the ILWU from maintaining jurisdiction over jobs certain PMA member companies are hoping to outsource.  Though the article does not mention SSA by name, it is clear that the “faction” is led by, if not solely comprised of that company.    “Sources inside the Pacific Maritime Association say the proposed agreement actually expands the jurisdiction of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union by giving labor, for the first time, authority over planning jobs at U.S. Pacific ports”, the JoC article notes.  “A faction of employers who strongly opposed the concession were out-voted by another group within the PMA, sources said.”

Port Congestion Continues:  Although the backup of ships has subsided, the pile-up of containers and related infrastructure problems continue to plague West Coast ports.  The persistent problems have not been addressed by the PMA.  Instead, the employer has attempted to pass on the costs to its shipper customers, and ultimately to consumers and blame the union for the problems the PMA created. 

Web Site Updated Daily:  It is extremely important that ILWU members stay up to date on the important developments in the ongoing campaign to secure a fair contract for our members.  This is why we urge all members to check the web site frequently.  We update the site on a daily basis with the latest details on the status of the bargaining campaign.  Please go to www.ilwu.org on a regular basis for the latest news.  And don’t forget to pick up the latest copy of The Dispatcher for more information on major issues affecting ILWU members.

URGENT NOTE ON DISTRIBUTION OF THIS DOCUMENT:  Officials at each ILWU local should ensure that copies of this update are distributed widely to the membership each Thursday promptly after it arrives.  Thank you for your active participation in this process.