The ILWU caucus begins Monday July 18. From the reports we are getting in local #8 the employers are still stonewalling. Union negotiators are refusing to meet at PMA offices as they have reasons to believe that the room available to them for private caucuses when reviewing employer proposals may be bugged. Union negotiators will only meet at the International’s offices because of this.
In the meantime are we as rank and filers doing all we can to help. It appears that productivity is down coast wide, the reports are at about 20-30%. I dont feel that is enough, one crane operator in Portland did 23 moves another did 25 moves (IN 4 HOURS) I know I am one of them. A bulk vessel loading fertilizer poured for only 1 hour and 30 minutes out of a total of four eight hour shifts. Yeah I was there too, and we all got paid. We have no contract we have no grievance procedure.
I look at it like this, what if I now get injured on the job, the employers may contravert the claim and refuse to pay comp. I don’t want to get injured while working without a contract. So I am making sure everything is very safe and very, very, S L O W. It reduces the chance of me getting injured.
EVERY ONE SHOULD HAVE A SAFETY BOOK IN THEIR POCKET, CLEARLY VISIBLE TO THE EMPLOYER. The more it costs them the sooner pma will stop their stonewalling. help your negotiating committee. TANK IT!!!
Jack Mulcahy #8
