The Waterfront Worker is back!: There hasn’t been a Waterfront Worker since early December. The reason for this is two-fold. First with no union meeting and the holidays there wasn’t much going on. Second it was decided to await the seating of the new administration to allow for things to simmer down. It is not likely the union will be caught up in the debate and controversy which took place last year over the publication of this bulletin.
[2/2/99, Vancouver B.C.] The port of Vancouver came to an abrupt halt when 1,200 longshoremen decided to spend the day in the park instead of going to work. They were there in support of ILWU Local 518 (samplers and testers) and other ILWU members who are in a vicious jurisdictional dispute with the employer. The conflict began last year when Sultrans, a consortium of multi-national oil companies ousted two ILWU companies and brought in non-union CertiSpec to do sampling and testing work on sulfur ships. According to the B.C.M.E.A. and the W.F.E.A. (Canada’s equivalent to our P.M.A.) it’s simply a matter of competitiveness. But the union sees it differently. Brother Rick Rondpre, President of Local 500 (longshore) stated it most succinctly when he said “Our jurisdiction is not for sale to the lowest bidder”.
The rally in the park was put on by a recently formed coalition known as the Jurisdiction Defense Committee. The JDC is a combination of public and union activists who joined together to fight a number of recent attacks by the employer involving jurisdiction. The JDC’s agenda consists of four demands:
Speakers at the rally emphasized the promises made back in the 1960’s by the employers. In exchange for increased automation and work-force reduction Union security was guaranteed. “If there is only one button left to push on the waterfront, it will be pushed by an ILWU member”. But Bob Wilds, president of the B.C. Maritime Employers Association said he wasn’t around in the 1960’s when these promises were made and he doesn’t think it applies to today’s situation. Wilds also said the employer’s association will assess the cost of the shutdown and send the Union a bill.
The employer’s argument of cost efficiency and competitiveness does not hold up under scrutiny. All the work recently contracted out had for centuries been performed by ILWU personnel without any problems of competitiveness. In the case of the sampling and testing work the bid put in by the company using ILWU workers was lower than that put in by the non-union outfit. The union leadership and the rank and file see these moves by the employer as direct attacks in an effort to do away with the union. Local 518 Secretary-Treasurer Marion Chorney surmised, “Unless the employers wake up, it’s going to be a long hot summer on the Vancouver waterfront.”
This is a quote from Local 8’s bulletin, The Hook, in Portland. It seems our sister local is getting a dose of what we have been putting up with for years. The biggest difference between Portland’s arbitrator Jan Holms and our own Gerald Sutliff is Ms. Holm’s brazen disregard for even an appearance of impartiality. In the 3 years she has served as area arbitrator she has ruled river barges are not vessels, agreements that have been in place since the early 1960’s are void because they are “not really agreements”, and there is no need to employ key safety men such as crane chasers (hatch tenders) and Section 1.7 of the PCLCD does not apply to Local 8. The union is calling for her removal by the Coast Committee.
Same shit, different union!: Liverpool, Australia, Canada, dock workers all over the world are under attack. Since October of 1997 the Dockers’ Union of Russia has been actively fighting an attempt by the shipowners to do away with their organization. In April and May of 1998 DUR members “failed” safety tests and lost their jobs only to be told they could go back to work if they left the union. In September of 1998 new working methods were introduced which forced DUR members into part-time positions and allowed non-union workers to get full time employment. Also in December a new company union emerged called Portovik. Portovik collects no dues but has considerable resources (it even pays benefits to its members). The “yellow” union is run by a representative of the employers. DUR has lost two-thirds of its work and 180 of its members have lost their jobs. Thus far strikes and legal action by DUR has been ineffective. DUR is an ITF affiliated union and hopefully the fight will be taken global.
Dock workers end two day walkout: Workers returned to work in the Port of Valletta (Malta’s main port) after a dispute involving the firing of seven workers over new working rules. Both sides are being tight lipped about the agreement but a spokesman for the United Workers’ Union said the seven fired union members would be returned to work soon.
Despite the chaos a clear message was sent to the employer, CASUALS AREN’T GOING TO OPERATE SKILL IN THIS PORT! Bribery didn’t work (allowing longshore kids to get an application), subterfuge and gimmicks didn’t work (giving I.D.’s who were about to be promoted tractor training) and threats didn’t work (the bogie man from PMA is going to get you). But keep alert, this issue isn’t going away. Remember how we lost our travel time in the 1993 negotiations? In all likelihood the employer will be throwing this on the table in 1999.
The best speech among the incoming and outgoing officers was delivered by Secretary-Treasurer Jolita Lewis. Her opening remarks dealt with her transfer to Local 34. She blasted the employer for their attempt to interfere in union politics. “This union needs people who will not jump up and run away because the employer throws a bone their way. The employers have got to understand they can’t buy, transfer or promote everyone who steps up to the plate for this union. It was with this in mind that I respectfully declined PMA’s offer.” (Note: In a similar “end run” attempt the employer has moved to de-register our newly elected business agent).
But you can damn sure make them sit up and listen! The Alameda City Council got an earful in their January 19th meeting when a room full of bay area unionists told them what they thought of their plans to oust unionized Blue & Gold ferry service for the notoriously anti-union Hornblower Marine. The vote was supposed to be a slam dunk in favor of Hornblower but after the unionists and many highly satisfied ferry passengers got done talking the matter was tabled. The fight is not over with but the City Council and everyone else involved received a first hand lesson in what is meant by the phrase, “power in the union”. The Alameda City Council will address this issue again on Tuesday, 2/16 at 7:30 p.m.. The IBU asks that any union member who can make it to please be on hand.
Truckers are the least paid, hardest working labor group on the waterfront. Rumor has it some empty runs pay as little as $27.00 before expenses. The Waterfront Worker is looking to crease a better understanding among truckers and the ILWU. To accomplish this the paper is making itself available to any driver who wishes to communicate. Tell us your beefs and concerns. We want to know what’s on your mind. The idea is to get people to understand that truckers and longshoremen are not enemies. In fact we’re natural allies. Our common adversary is the employer. They are making a blatant effort to pit truckers and longshoremen against one another to strengthen their position in the up coming contract negotiations. We cannot let this happen as both of our livelihoods hinge on the outcome. But solidarity begins with understanding. And the only way to accomplish this is with communication.
Your anonymity will be protected. The Waterfront Worker fully realizes truck drivers are at the mercy of the company. What you say may be published but you will not be identified.
The paper is also open to clerks, longshoremen and guards to clarify the union’s side of it. Talk about our hard won conditions and rights that are under constant attack. Explain how the company could hire an extra man or two and work through lunch. What else would it take to have the drivers on their way faster? Be specific, explain the situation at individual terminals. If you wish to remain anonymous simply say so and your identity will be protected as well. Send your comments to:
The Waterfront Worker
P.O. Box 238, Alameda, CA 94501
Fax 510-865-0711
email rtmead@igc.org
During her first day on the job Secretary-Treasurer Jolita Lewis got a call from Art Chu of PMA concerning bother Prince Ali’s van which was parked in APL’s lot (brother Ali suffered a heart attack and was taken off in an ambulance). Jolita told Chu she didn’t know anything about it. “Well why don’t you know, you’re the Secretary-Treasurer,” he barked. “If it’s not out of there soon we’re going to tow it!” Jolita phoned APL and straightened it out. The company had no intentions of towing the vehicle. Brother Ali is out of the hospital and doing well (although he remains on disability). The van has since been moved.
Nothing moves in this city, without our say so
Let the bosses curse, let the papers cry
This morning I saw it happen
With these ancient eyes of mine
Without our say-so
Nothing moves but the tide
by Rob Rosenthal, written during the 1919 Seattle General Strike
The Waterfront Worker is an independent newsletter.
It is not an official publication of the ILWU or Local 10.
