ILWU-PMA begin negotiations on new Coastwise Contract
Negotiations between the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) began on May 10th in San Francisco. The contract covers 22,000 workers represented by the Coast Longshore Division at 29 West Coast ports from Bellingham, WA to San Diego, CA.
Priorities set by the membership
The priorities for negotiations are set by the union’s democratic process. The Coast Longshore Division’s Caucus met on January 31-February 11 in Long Beach, CA, where nearly 100 elected delegates met, discussed, and debated proposals originating from Longshore Division locals with ideas and priorities for the new contract. Resolutions for the contract revolved around safety, wages, benefits, jurisdiction, and technology. Delegates also elected the main Contract Negotiating Committee and Safety Subcommittee.
Media spotlight
The shipping industry and global supply chains have generated intense media scrutiny in the past two years, bring unprecedented media attention to West Coast ports. The COVID pandemic and the sharp spike in consumer demand for products manufactured in Asia have exposed weaknesses in the supply chain links outside of U.S. ports, including labor shortages in the trucking, railroad, and warehousing industry, as well as chassis, gondolas, and other equipment shortages. The Coast Longshore Division has implemented a comprehensive media and public relations response that has significantly increased the inclusion of the union’s viewpoint in media reports and established a strong social media presence for the ILWU.
Worker risks, carrier profits
The negotiations take place in the context of the ongoing pandemic during which the ILWU workforce kept the ports open and cargo flowing at record rates, including critical PPE needed by health care workers, in spite of the risks to the health of ILWU dockworkers.
During this time, ocean carriers generated record profits. According to the maritime research group Drewry, carriers have generated approximately $190 billion of annual profits, roughly triple from the previous year, although some carriers saw much larger gains. Cosco Shipping reported $14 billion in annual profits in 2021, nine times more than in 2020 while Hapag-Lloyd’s pre-tax income more than quadrupled to $12.8 billion last year.
“The ILWU has been negotiating with the PMA for decades, and we always get an agreement,” said Willie Adams, ILWU International President. “Good jobs, safe jobs, and ports that work for America; this is what we fight for every day.”
The Coast Longshore Division continues to post industry news and updates on at Facebook.com, @LongshoreWorkers, and at Twitter.com, @ILWUlongshore.