By a vote of 22-1, the first contract, between UltraEx courier company and the 38 bike, car, and foot messengers, represented by ILWU Local 6, In San Francisco was ratified May 16, and takes effect June 1, exactly one year after the workers voted in the ILWU in a National Labor Relations Board representation election. The one year contract calls for a union shop, pay raises of about 6. 5%, a lower co-payment for health insurance premiums, maintenance allowance for bike messengers, and reimbursement for parking expenses and tolls for drivers. This is a very significant development, not only for the ILWU, but the labor movement as a whole, in the San Francisco Bay area.
Ken Morgan, Local 6.
