Cosco is one of the largest shipping lines that trade here in on our coast. Cosco is owned and operated by the Chinese government. This same government will throw any person that speaks his or her mind or voices dissatisfaction in jail. Horrible human rights record, everyone has heard of Tianamen Square and the hundreds of student activist who were killed or jailed for pleading democracy (our luxury). We have all seen the huge number of stowaways that have risked and even lost their lives to escape tyranny and hopelessness.
Well at this very moment in time, the current administration is lobbying congress to pass inclusion of China into a favored nation status. This will grease the inclusion of China into the WTO. This is a very sad moment in our Nations history. We have become in many ways the Monster we used to despise. By opening markets to china and gaining them huge volumes of increased business, we make this situation for millions of Chinese truly hopeless. Truth of the matter is we have everything in common with the Chinese labor that will suffer under this free ticket into world markets. We breathe the same air of struggle and the same breath of uncertainty. Globalization and later privatization has been the very effective means to destroy strong trade unions around the world.
Cosco is the Chinese Government doing business right here in the USA. The truth is that the same abuses that exist in China by that Government towards its people are going on right here in the USA. Every Cosco ship that sails has good solid Union contracts onboard that Cosco does not honor. The ships will not show wage accounts in most cases, claiming wire transfers? The men and women that sail on ITF contracted ships are never allowed to do the work of an established dockworkers union. In every case, Cosco ships are short ordering lashers at the Long Beach facility and up the coast. The ILO has determined lashing at sea is highly dangerous and should not be allowed.
We are the agents for these seafarers appointed by the ITF to guard these men and the contracts that are supposed to protect them. More importantly than that, we are the Best Trade union that has ever existed in my mind. Born out of an impossible situation. Founded by ordinary people that wanted to transcend the pain that they had been cast into and true trade unionist that have a strong disdain for the persecution of good honest working people. I hope that history will not show that this proud union did not take up a cause that was so apparent and readily available.
The reason that it is imperative that we take a stand at this very crucial time in world history is that we can. Regardless of the outcome in Congress and later the WTO. In addition, regardless if it is right or prudent to allow China favored Nation status. Remember the only Chinese laborer that we will likely ever have access to, or the ability to help, is on these ships and under our care, as the ITF affiliate the ILWU is responsible. The true and looming question should be.
The decision is ours and the door is closing. In a few weeks, it will not matter as much. By the time, China makes the WTO, any complaints or grievance will be heard and decided by that body. The ITF has been very responsive to this issue and will take our recommendation. The general media at this moment in history will tell our position on this issue. Would you let your brother or sister lash at night on a rolling ship in the rain? Remember that Harry Bridges sailed onto this coast and into our history. What would Harry do?
Rudy Vanderhider-36737
ITF Inspector
Labor Donated
