This is for the newer voting members of our Union, and other members who are not privy to all the inside facts concerning the incumbant presidential candidate Brian McWilliams.
As president he has done irreparable damage to this Union since he initially ran for international president in 1994. Most of the longshore divisions members are already wise to McWilliams secret sellout tactics, that’s why in the last presidential Election the divisions members voted almost 2-to-1 in favor of Larry Wing. Unfortunately the longshore division is in the minority when it comes to voting power. Hence McWilliams carried Hawaii, IBU, and Canada, thus leaving us stuck with another term of corruption. In fact McWilliams is so dishonest that the caucus delegates in May of 1998, returned a vote of no confidence by over 60% followed by a “statement of unity” designed to protect the Union from further secret deals. That however did not stop McWilliams backdoor deal-making, so another Caucus was called 6 months later in November of 1998. It was at this Caucus that the Delegates stripped McWilliams of all power within the Longshore Division.
The agreement dated November 24,1998,
I. McWilliams assigns chairmanship of the Coast Committee to Vice Pres. Jim Spinoza for the Remainder of his term.
II. The Vice Pres. Can be assigned responsibilities outside the Longshore Division by the President.
III. At the next ILWU-PMA Pension trustee meeting the Union will move to eliminate the Investment Subcommittee (a two person committee, McWilliams / Miniace) and transfer the duties to the full board of trustees. If the PMA does not agree there will be no meetings or actions by the committee.
A) McWilliams will notify PMA by letter that the Vice Pres. will henceforth be trustee of the Pension Plan.
B) The Caucus will be the only body that can amend and adjust this agreement
C) The Trustees are to elect a new Trustees chair
Some people would have you believe that anyone printing negative material on McWilliams is simply witch-hunting, I don’t believe it. McWilliams has a horrendous record of giving gifts to the employers. Listen to everyone, make your own decisions, go by the facts, not hearsay or someone’s opinion. The Caucus did not remove McWilliams for a singular event, rather it was an accumulation of many incidents that led to his removal. Here’s my all time top three McWilliams sellouts.
1.) His July 21,1997 agreement with PMA boss Miniace, the 26th amendment to the Pension Plan that saved the employers several hundred million dollars, and amended the special withdrawal liability rules. McWilliams had neglected to tell our new trustees, Spinner, big Bob and Ray Ortiz. And one out-going trustee, Olson. Olson was the odd man out (because of Union ethics and integrity) to our infamous three PMA stooges (trustees Austin, Ramisky and McWilliams). He also forgot to tell our attorney’s, and our actuarial firm. Oh yeah, they used an actuarial firm that Miniace had previous experience with.
2.) The Nov.18,1996 letter signed by McWilliams and again, his best buddy, PMA boss Miniace. This letter explained how the removal of the “LIFETIME” language from the summary plan Description booklets (welfare & pension SPD’s) was not a cause for alarm as the word “LIFETIME” was not in the plan documents. What he neglected to tell you was that the Courts view the summary plan description (SPD) as part of the plan, and in many cases give it weight over the Plan if there is an ambiguity between the Plan and the SPD. (see my post “health benefits sellout” 6/21/00 for SPD clarification). The letter states “Union and Employer Trustees of the Welfare Plans have joined together to explain some important facts about Welfare Plan eligibility and benefits for pensioners and survivors.” The really strange thing about this letter is the two M&M buddies that signed it (McWilliams/Miniace) are NOT TRUSTEES TO THE WELFARE PLAN.
3.) June,26,1996 McWilliams sent a letter to Alaska Governor Knowles, notifying them that regardless of the status of negotiations, that services for Alaska, with Sea-Land and Totem Ocean Trailers Express Inc. would not be interupted. Likewise a letter was sent to Governor Cayetano of Hawaii explaining their services with Matson Navigation Company and Sause Bros. would not be disrupted. (No Miniace didn’t sign this one, it was just his idea). Problem is McWilliams neglected to tell the negotiating committee or us rank & filers for that matter what he was doing. Article XIII of the International Constitution states SECTION 1. “Only those locals which are directly involved shall vote on questions of proposed agreements, strikes or boycotts” Seems to me a strike would affect us all. Fortunately there was not a strike, but we would have looked extremely foolish to shut down operation’s the president, with no authority, just proclaimed were strike free.
In the Election Edition of the June 1994 Dispatcher McWilliams made us all a campain promise, you decide if he was truthful or dishonest. “I’m not much for campaign promises, but I can promise you this: As your International President, I’ll work for you, not tell you what to do. I’ll provide the leadership to implement and administer your programs, not leave you floundering or impose my own. I’ll share my views and get your feedback, not operate in the dark. I’ll promote consensus, not confrontation. I’ll mean what I say and say what I mean and make sure the other officers do too.”
A VOTE FOR McWILLIAMS IS A VOTE FOR MINIACE.
Jack Mulcahy
#8 portland
