Sisters and Brothers of the ILWU, I would like to begin by thanking all of the officers and staff who are working so tirelessly to help the members of our union face some of the most challenging times in our history. We’re facing headwinds instead of tailwinds; dealing with employers who are challenging things as simple as paying health benefits – and serious as outsourcing work and destroying jobs.
In early April, I attended several meetings where we had to raise difficult, sometimes painful issues, including what work could look like in the future. Some of these difficult discussions took place at the International Executive Board meeting, followed by the Longshore Caucus on April 16. Some of the same issues came into sharp focus during a rally in Southern California, where community and union members are rightly concerned about plans to automate Terminal 400 at the Port of Los Angeles – a move that could destroy hundreds of good jobs. Each of these meetings raised different problems, but the take-away was the same: we’re facing challenging times that require honest, sometimes painful discussions. I realize that our union has been through difficult times before, and that we’ll survive these challenges, but the International Officers and I want to be open with you about what we’re up against – and how we’re responding.
Global grain giants
In the Pacific Northwest, global grain companies are demanding concessions and refusing to sign fair contracts. These international grain merchants are making healthy profits – but want workers to have less so they can take more. One exception is TEMCO, a grain terminal operator who negotiated a fair contract with us in just a few meetings for their terminals in Tacoma, Kalama and Portland.
Compare that to Galivan, Inc., owner of the Kalama Export Terminal, which is still refusing to pay the same health and pension benefits to Local 21 members that all other ILWU in-house elevator employees enjoy. We’ll keep negotiating with Kalama Export and the other grain companies, despite their demands to squeeze workers and family farmers. This challenge is forming stronger bonds between family farmers and ILWU members, because we’re both facing pressure from the same big grain companies. We’ve had promising talks with leaders from the National Farmers Union, and I hope we can work together in the times ahead.
Automation that’s killing good jobs
Many U.S. workers – not just dockworkers – are being hurt by automation that threatens to permanently eliminate good jobs. In Southern California, many community members around the Port of LA are fighting back against a proposed project that would replace hundreds of workers with automated equipment at Terminal 400. I’ve spent several days marching, rallying and talking with hundreds of these community leaders, business owners and port workers who are asking good questions, like: “What will happen to families, future generations and local businesses if automation destroys our good jobs at the port?” These questions and concerns must be fully considered by all stakeholders if West Coast port communities are going to be prosperous in the future for the many, not just a few.
Privatizing to destroy public service
In Alaska, ferry workers on the state-owned Marine Highway System belong to our Marine Division, the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific (IBU). They’re also fighting to save good jobs and dependable service that allows residents and business owners to survive in dozens of isolated communities. Alaska’s governor started this crisis by trying to slash funding for the ferries and other vital service by 75%. At the same time, private investors are maneuvering to swoop-in and privatize the public system. If this happens, there will be higher fares and service cuts for residents and small business owners, along with fewer jobs and a less certain future for ferry workers. IBU members have formed a coalition with community leaders, other unions and help from our International Organizing Department to fight back.
Union-busting continues
Workers from many industries continue asking us to help them organize and join the ILWU, including workers at America’s largest pet hospital chains. One of those chains is VCA, which operates more than 800 pet hospitals and was sold in 2017 for over $9 billion to Mars, the giant corporation that’s famous for M&M’s candy. Mars says it respects workers’ rights but allows VCA to hire union-busting consultants and attorneys to harass pet-care workers. On April 11th, I joined nearly one hundred ILWU Longshore Caucus delegates and supporters who rallied with workers at the Mars/VCA SFVS pet hospital in San Francisco. Workers there won a union election last year, and are now trying to negotiate for better patient care and working conditions – despite stalling tactics and resistance from VCA and Mars.
Courts & federal agencies
In the courts, we’re facing several challenges from employers and federal agencies. Philippine-based terminal operator ICTSI has us in a trial for damages in October of this year, and the Japanese company, Columbia Grain has also filed a frivolous lawsuit that deserves to be thrown out of court but will require litigation.
The Department of Labor also wants us to re-run the ILWU International election. We think they’ve got it wrong and will present facts and evidence to the court that prove the union acted in accordance with our Constitution and federal election law. The officers are committed to protecting the integrity and democracy of the ILWU’s election process.
Different problems, same solution
You may have different problems at your job, or maybe some of the same that I’ve mentioned here, but whatever the problem, all solutions have to begin with us coming together and talking honestly about what steps we can take collectively as a group. Here are some of the things that your International Officers are doing to make those next steps successful:
We’re talking to other unions, including ones that we’ve disagreed with in the past. Regardless of what’s happened before, we can’t close the door on helping each other in the future. Having more friends and allies in the labor movement is more important than ever, and is not something that we can take for granted.
We’re talking to other organizations and community groups who support unions and working families. This includes family farm organizations who are also struggling against big grain companies. We’re working with environmental groups who support our fight to keep stadiums and condos out of industrial areas and want to see more all-electric vehicles driven by longshore workers on the docks. We recognize and value the support of our local communities, and know that we can’t win these fights in isolation. We best protect our interests with the full support of our local communities.
We’re providing more training and resources to help rank-and-file members obtain the tools necessary for protecting our jurisdiction and our future. We are also developing ILWU leadership programs and cooperating with allied groups to further the development of our future ILWU leaders.
Looking forward means engaging in the 2020 Presidential election – in a way that’s good for the union, our families and the working class. If you have ideas and suggestions, we want to hear from you.
Open door for your ideas
The ILWU isn’t a big union, but we’ve always punched above our weight and earned respect from many of our peers. Tackling these problems that I’ve mentioned will require some difficult conversations, but I’m confident that we can succeed by sticking together, standing by our principles, reaching out to new allies and embracing new ideas. My door is always open to your ideas and any suggestions you may have to help us stay unified as we face the challenges ahead. Our thanks to each of you who are concerned and contributing so that our union can move forward and help more working families.