PMA chief Miniace’s much-touted “spirit of cooperation” between maritime employers and the ILWU is like a ship that just hit a rock. It’s taking on water and about to sink. Rank and file longshore workers and marine clerks angered by the PMA’s stonewalling in contract negotiations and utter disrespect shown ILWU negotiators took matters into their own hands.
Apparently inspired by our Bloody Thursday Memorial, commemorating those who fought and fell fighting against employer and police attacks in the ’34 strike, Local 10 rank and filers took action. Since July 5 is a “no work” holiday, the following day crane operators refused the onerous work of hatchtending after coming down off the crane. San Francisco and Oakland are the only ports on the Coast where crane operators were being forced to do two separate and additional jobs. They are demanding signalmen to do that job, which will mean more work out of the union hiring hall. In 1996, during local negotiations in the port of Oakland, PMA Northern California rep Jack Suite simply laughed at the same union proposal. This not a “local” issue. Local 10 members are demanding to work like the rest of the ILWU in our coastwide agreement, i.e to work under Section 14, Crane Supplement of the PCLCD and to be included in the Industry Travel System.
PMA companies have been firing crane operators who refuse to tend hatch and all longshore workers involved in shipboard operations. Since Tuesday July 6 all container operations in the ports of Oakland and San Francisco, both day and night, have been shut down tight because of PMA’s recalcitrant stand. At the Stewards’ Council meeting last night one young “B” longshoreman beamed, “Getting fired for union solidarity was my proudest moment since I’ve been down on the waterfront.” PMA’s hard-headed bargaining tactics are unwittingly training a new generation of longshore workers what solidarity is all about. A steady crane operator proudly proclaimed that it’s the unity between the steadymen and hallmen that will keep the action going until we win.
Undeterred by PMA scare tactics and misinformation dutifully reported by the press, especially the Journal of Commerce, longshore workers and clerks in the ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach have taken actions, as well. The press is parroting PMA press releases about an illusory “spirit of cooperation” which never did exist. Remember last year’s PMA “special master” federal lawsuit against work stoppages and the Neptune Jade defense case? We won them both and PMA lost!
Rank and file longshore actions are spreading north. Portland Local 8 is down to 20 container moves an hour. One grain ship is reported to have been in port 4 days. Their job tape is calling for volunteer picket captains. Is Seattle and Tacoma next? Coastwise unity of action will be the key to successful negotiations.
