Action on the “letter demanding an apology” from McWilliams for his remark about the Alaska Longshoremen.
The IEB meeting was set to adjourn Saturday evening when brother Hansen of Seattle requested that a very important issue of Local 19 demanding an apology for the McWilliams letter about the Alaska Longshore struggle. Brother Hansen felt it should be discussed by the entire board since McWilliams has made no effort to offer that apology when the entire delegation was present at the three day IEB meeting.
There was some protest by President McWilliams asserting, “it was not a matter for this board”, and then went on to defend his writing of the letter. McWilliams produced a video tape of a local new cast about the movement of food to North Korea which was done the day of the four hour stand-by. McWilliams’ words, “ picketing at various terminals along the West Coast has been a reckless and irresponsible”, were written across the screen on the very day of the telecast. Followed by a news cast that was so employer oriented that it could have been produced by PMA.
At this point Brother Hansen set the record straight, “you don’t talk to the press on issues like this”…“these are our people that you are going after”…“, and several other related comments about “hurting the image of the entire ILWU by making such comments to the press”. Brother Hansen concluded by saying, “It was bad enough that you did it in a letter, now you are telling us you did it to the press”.
At this point Brother John Bukoskey took the floor and defended the rank-and-file longshoremen of Alaska, and their action to regain the medical coverage, that they and their families had been denied. Explaining that these Alaska longshoremen and their families were without medical benefits since February 23, 1998, “people are dying”
Brother Bukoskey went on to say “Brother Hansen said it best, ’It was bad enough that you did it in a letter, now did it to the press’. You completely ignore the fact that these Alaska longshoremen and their families were without medical and are dying. Instead you tell the press about one food ship that was delayed for four hours. This was the 90th ship to carry rice to Korea and, you chose to ignore an issue that was brought to your attention many times. “ I am in support of the letter that Brother Hansen is referring to and demand that you apologize to the Alaskan Longshoremen for the letter, and your public comments. ”
McWilliams again asserted “it was not a matter for this board” but by then there was such an outcry by everyone present that McWilliams relented and said, “Alright, alright I’m sorry I had to write the letter”. Brother Hansen said, “It better be in writing so all of the members can read it. ” Now it is up to McWilliams to do what he has been instructed to do, apologize, in light of the IEB action in support of the Alaska Longshoremen.
The IEB action was,“To go on record pledging 100% support to the, ALASKA Longshore Brothers and Sisters and instructing the International Officers to support and assist ILWU Local 200 and the Longshore Division in getting their health care benefits back”. This Policy was unanimously approved at the International Executive Board Meeting on August 2l, 1998.
So what does International President Brian McWilliams do after offering “I’m sorry I had to write the letter” (a Bill Clinton apology) to the Alaska delegates present at the IEB, meeting. He promptly gets in a Jumbo Jet and heads to Alaska, but does not meet with the union, instead he arranges a meeting with management “alone”. His defense is that he has not signed anything he was simply meeting with them to see what could be done for the Alaska members. Don’t do it for them, do it with them, and begin by the most direct method.
An apology to Alaska Longshore Division, to Regional Director John Bukoskey and to the entire ILWU, in writing for the entire union to read. That letter (and TV interview) took issue with Local 200’s program of deploying picket lines in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle. There needs, to be a public retracted of both and Brian McWilliams must openly apologize for his actions. Nothing short of that is acceptable if we are to believe there can be unity in the ILWU.
Then with that aside, everyone can finally get on the same page and stand united to assist our fellow longshoremen from Alaska, by bringing them into the Coast Health and Welfare Plan. The only objective here is to get everyone medical coverage ASAP.
Respectfully submitted,
Dallas DeLay # 56830
June 29, 2000
