The Port and SSA wants to bust the Port Electricians and mechanics unions and get them off the docks before your contract opens, they know that we will support you. On the outside this looks as if it is only a privatization effort, if you peel off the plain brown wrapper and look inside you will find a maze of different players and interests. The Port, SSA, IAM and the PMA.
We know that the Port said we cost too much, but the evidence from their own documents shows that they know that is a lie. They claimed to have tried to negotiate with us and we would not, of course they fail to tell you that the IBEW had just signed a negotiated contract with the port and they forced us to the table by threatening our jobs! Then told us the only way to save them was to raid the 302 mechanics work or they would refuse to honor our contract by privatizing our work. At the same time the told the mechanics(302) who the port had stalled on their contract negotiations that the only way they could have a contract was if they would raid the IBEW’s work.
The plan was simple yet very complicated, give both unions offers they could not accept. Therefore doing the dirty work for SSofA and handing them our jobs and control of the cranes. The port has also been discussing the sale of the cranes to SSA which will complete the privatization. Next SSA just has to drive out the competition (as they were quoted in port documents, threatening to take the tenants from the East waterway. ) thus taking complete control of Seattle’s waterfront.
The IAM (Don Hursey) came to us last April wanting us to abandon our union because quote “they the IAM were taking over our jobs and maintenance on the waterfront”. I told the IAM rep that we could not and would not abandon our unions. I also told him that the ILWU had promised to support us. He told me that the ILWU would abandon us and stab us in the back! I told him that we had solidarity and I knew that we would fight this together. He just laughed at me and said you will see.
After this we learned a few more things, the Port of Seattle maintenance clerk, the one that handled all of our maintenance info, had worked out of our office for a year and was privy to all the rumors and talk in our shop turned out to be Don Hurseys wife and ex IAM shop steward. A little obvious don’t you think!
We also learned some info that the IAM had and thought was their trumph card, the Port staff traveled to California and offered the ILWU’s international our jobs on the East side of Seattle’s waterway in a move planned to stop local 19 from supporting our fight against the raiding and privatization. Come on,12 to 15 jobs to turn against their guiding principles and join the IAM in raiding, we knew that would not happen. I believe that SSA, PMA, IAM and the the Port are going to find out what our unions are made of as this struggle continues!
Work safe brothers!
Myles
