ILWU delegation meets with key U.S. Representatives and Senators in DC

Defending ILWU interests and workers tops the agenda

Shortly after the presidential inauguration, the ILWU hit the ground running by sending a delegation to Washington, DC at the beginning of February to meet with members of Congress and key staff. Leading the delegation were ILWU Vice President Mainland Ryan Whitman, ILWU Vice President Hawaii Brandon Wolff, and CLD Coast Committeeman Cam Williams. Also in attendance were CLD Legislative Committee Chair Dan McKisson, ILWU Senior Policy Advisor Alexa Jurczak, ILWU Hawaii Director of Operations and Legislative Liaison Brenson Wailehua, and representatives from the union’s new lobbying firm Nueva Vista Group (NVG).

The group met with multiple members of Congress and key staff to introduce the ILWU’s new leadership and address issues of importance to the union. The main issues discussed were automation and job loss, port security and the threats to critical infrastructure posed by foreign adversaries, battery and energy storage safety and security, the Harbor Maintenance Tax/Di Minimis and the impact on diverted cargo from West Coast ports, the SHIPS for America Act, and grant funding.

The group focused on meetings with members from the Pacific Northwest and Hawaii given the delegation, including meetings with Senators Patty Murray (WA), Mazie Hirono (HI), and Brian Schatz (HI), and meetings with House of Representatives members Marilyn Strickland (WA), Emily Randall (WA), Rick Larsen (WA), Adam Smith (WA), Dan Newhouse (WA), Suzanne Bonamici (OR), Val Hoyle (OR), Jill Tokuda (HI), Ed Case (HI), Robert Garcia (CA), and Laura Friedman (CA). The remaining meetings were held with high-level staff in the offices of Senators Maria Cantwell (WA), Jeff Merkley (OR), Ron Wyden (OR), and Josh Hawley (MO) as well as House of Representatives member Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA).

In the spirit of working across the aisle, it is important to note that of the meetings attended, two were with Republican offices (Newhouse and Hawley) that work on committees and issues that overlap with ILWU interests. Rep. Newhouse shared some of the same concerns as ILWU around port security and the impacts of tariffs on the agricultural community and Washington ports. Senator Hawley’s office shared an overview of their “pro-worker framework” that strengthens protections for workers and their right to join a union. However, when asked if the Senator would be taking a position on the current attacks on the NLRB and stand up for working people, the Senator’s staff said he would have to get back to us.

It was clear during this trip that most members and staff were rattled by the Trump Administration’s current dismantling of established agencies and the purge of government employees. Despite the climate in DC, members and staff heard our issues and even recognized some possible space where we could address some issues of ours with the administration. Most importantly, when ILWU asked what we could do to be helpful, members like Senator Hirono stressed the importance of all of us working together and coordinating our efforts to protect democracy. As she stated, our three pillars of strength are communication, litigation, and legislation. Other members such as Senator Murray and Reps Bonamici and Tokuda asked that we keep them informed of what’s happening at home and alert them if funding for authorized projects and services becomes unavailable.

The impacts on the ILWU and the labor movement from the Administration’s changes look to be significant. Some of these include:

Tariffs – U.S. tariffs and retaliatory tariffs from other countries are still being waged and we may not see full impacts for months. We expect to see fewer imports soon of steel, onshore wind turbines, and autos. Building U.S. capacity to replace imports like steel could take years and even longer for extra capacity to see exports of steel. In the Administration’s previous term, we saw significant retaliatory tariffs on agricultural exports. The agricultural communities received $40 billion in aid to offset those export losses. Some in the agricultural community have waged a campaign of “Trade not Aid.”

Maritime Advisory Committee on Occupational Safety and Health (MACOSH) – the ILWU Coast Safety Committee has participated on this committee for many years. MACOSH has had all future meetings canceled. This move cancels our voice for addressing safety issues for our members.

Infrastructure Grant Funding – ports saw record funding by Congress for infrastructure projects in the last few years. The Administration has unilaterally paused or eliminated Congressionally approved funding and ports are finding that funds are now not available for their projects.

USAID – This agency has been completely dismantled leaving projects around the world that aid millions of people in limbo. USAID is also where the “Food For Peace” program receives funding. Food For Peace loads U.S. flag ships with U.S. agricultural products to feed the hungry in emergency situations. This program also helps U.S. shipping by keeping Jones Act ships and crews active in our severely depleted U.S. shipping fleet. There is a proposed bill that would move $1.8 billion in funding for the Food For Peace program to USDA. The ILWU has given support to this bill that supports the Jones Act, U.S. farmers, and ILWU workers.

U.S. International Trade Commission – All future meetings have been canceled. USITC is a forum where labor has been provided a voice on the impacts of international trade. Labor’s voice has been canceled.

Hydrogen Hubs – Seven billion dollars have been awarded by congress to hydrogen hubs around the country with $3 billion allocated for hubs in Washington, Oregon and California. Funding has been jeopardized on hydrogen infrastructure projects that include West Coast ports.

These are just some of the impacts we see from the Administration’s unprecedented unilateral changes being implemented. Many of the changes are politically based. New administrations have the right by law to select and appoint some positions based on their political beliefs and the approval of the Senate. However, the unilateral dismantling of congressionally approved agencies and funding is already being challenged by multiple lawsuits and we expect to see a lengthy battle play out in the courts. The firing of government employees without cause and replacement with political allies is illegal. It has not been seen in government since the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act (Spoils Act) was passed by Congress and signed by President Chester Arthur in 1883. The Spoils Act prevented new administrations from firing experienced government staff and replacing them with inexperienced political loyalists.

Whether you believe in less government or not, there are processes in place to eliminate agencies and funding – and this only happens with the approval of Congress.

The ILWU will continue to put our policy and jobs before political parties or politicians and we will work with anyone who supports our policies. Similarly, we will not stand by and watch the dismantling of our democracy. Our voices will not be silenced.

The ILWU will continue to advocate for workers’ rights, the livelihood of our members, and most of all, protect democracy at all costs.

-Alexa Jurczak