Carol,
Did you get a chance to read the “THE WILLY LYNCH LETTER” that I posted? You are right about the speed, only some of our own ILWU members are doing it also.
READ THIS PART OF WHAT I COPYED FROM A MEMBER OF ILWU.
Al Brocchini
Local 10
San Francisco, CA
PMA is using the same tactics against us in local negotiations as outlined in the Willy LYNCH letter. They are attempting to pit hall men against steady men, day against night, casual against registered, officer against rank and filer, along with the mighty and powerful short day.
Employers are telling their steady men the union officials don’t have they’re best interests at heart, They’re telling hall men they shouldn’t be sticking their neck out for the steady men. HOPELESSNESS and DISMAY is being spread around everyday, with such statements as, “You’ll never get travel time back” or “The employer will never give you hatch tenders”. How many times have you heard, “They’re doing 35 moves an hour over at APL” or “They did 300 moves last night”. Don’t let the employer divide us. “A”, “B”, day, night and steady we’re all one thing in this Union, THE RANK AND FILE! YOU’RE A UNION MEMBER FIRST! YOU ONLY WORK FOR THE COMPANY!
There is no reason for us not to be united, there’s something in these demands for everybody, even the I.D.’s. And they’re not unrealistic or unobtainable. Crane operators to be taken out of 9.43 and come under section 14 along with signalmen issue. Industry travel, we do more traveling than any other port yet we don’t get paid for it. Union officials to be allowed to drive on all terminals, scheduled days off for steady men, and the right (as called for in the contract) to choose our job out of the hall. All these things are standard up and down the coast. The only “unrealistic or extraordinary” thing about them is that we have to fight so hard to get them here.
At matson the other day they threatened to fire everybody at the beginning of the shift. Around 11:30 they were telling people the union made a deal and it was O.K. to go faster. by late afternoon they were offering to pay 10 hours if they’d speed up. When the night shift came on they screamed, “100 moves, short night!” They were also running around saying, “If the day side hadn’t of messed up there would have been only 50 moves”. There were actually 140 moves per crane. get it though your head, THE EMPLOYER WILL SAY AND DO ANYTHING TO GET YOU TO IGNORE THE SAFETY BOOK AND WORK RULES. Screw all that nonsense. When they try to bribe you, goad you, or bluff you just tell them the APL 500 and the Berth I International Speedway are closed for the day.
During the coast contract negotiations we showed something to the employers, unity and militancy! They’ll do anything to break that up. They’re stalling the negotiations in the hope that the effort to enforce of the safety code and work rules will break down. And they’ll use every trick in the book to bring that about. We need to redouble our efforts, and show them that we can and will work in accordance with the rules for as long as it takes.
In a question of tonnage vs. safety, safety first! You have a the right to stop at stop signs. Your allowed to slow down on corners. Safety inspection? Read rule 901 in the Safety Code. IT SAY’S VEHICLE OPERATORS SHALL PERFORM THIS DUTY! WORK SAFE! Don’t fall for the employer’s game.
