These remarks were prepared by President McEllrath for the 35th ILWU Convention that took place on June 4-8 at the Hotel Del Coronado near San Diego, CA. He began by appreciating the International officers who stood by him during three years that were full of struggle, three of the hardest years in the union’s history.
Brothers and Sisters:
When the Convention last met in Seattle, we were knee deep in the worst recession since the Great Depression. Now we are still in a recession, with workers under attack by corporate greed. Economic hard times are making workers fearful, and many are swallowing the poison pill offered by the Tea Party—blaming unions, immigrants, government and taxes for their problems.
Three years ago we had hopes for Obama, but we have been disappointed by an administration that bailed out Wall Street without conditions, allowed the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to drag on, and took his advisors from Wall Street, not Main Street. He would clearly be a better choice than an anti-union Romney, but we can’t count on the White House. We have to rely on ourselves, and it has made us stronger.
We have fought and won battles against all odds. I have the deepest respect for the everyday heroes who made that possible. On January 31, 2010, Rio Tinto locked out the 600 members of ILWU Local 30 in Boron. The company tried to strip their benefits, contract out their jobs, and break the union. But the Local 30 families stayed strong with the help of the International and allies from around the world. We forced one of the most powerful mining companies in the world to come back to the table and sign a contract.
Not too far from Boron, in the high desert town of Lancaster, 500 workers at the massive Rite Aid distribution center came to the ILWU to help them organize. They withstood threats, harassment, firings and abuse. After a five-year campaign, again with the support of the International and labor allies, they got a union contract.
We’ve won battles, but the Warehouse Division keeps shrinking, because the employers are taking advantage of the harsh economic conditions. Local 17 was struggling financially. The International fought for this local, serviced this local like any other—but the self-serving leadership persuaded the membership to leave the ILWU and join the Teamsters, using pension and welfare benefits as a tool. Local 17 used to be one of our most powerful locals. Now they are no longer with us.
We know solidarity is a two way street. In Costa Rica, the SINJATRAP port workers were under attack because the government wanted speed-up and privatization. It removed the democratically elected union leadership, froze the union’s assets, took over the union hall and appointed a hand-picked group of union directors. The ILWU and unions all over the world came to support SINJATRAP. I wrote two letters to Barack Obama and one to Hillary Clinton—and we ended up helping to supervise elections for new officers in SINJATRAP.
The Maritime Union of New Zealand, MUNZ, is facing a similar fight. Workers at the Port of Auckland were locked out because management wanted them to give up their union contract to save their jobs. We held rallies at the New Zealand embassy in Washington, D.C. and the consulate in Los Angeles. ILWU members, led by International Vice President Ray Familathe, went to New Zealand to stand with the locked-out workers. Recently the courts ruled the employer lockout illegal. MUNZ went back to work and back to the table, though negotiations are going slowly.
These acts of international solidarity are absolutely necessary for our own survival. On Dec. 9, 2011 the International Executive Board voted to accept the Panama Canal Pilots on the same terms as ILWU Canada. This brings 250 new members and a historic, strategic alliance. The battle of the Export Grain Terminal, EGT, has been one of the fiercest in the ILWU’s recent history.
General Construction signed a deal employing Operating Engineers to do our work at EGT. Not in my 43 years or before has any other union loaded grain at an export grain facility. To defend our work we needed complete solidarity in our own ranks, rank-and-file solidarity and militant action. This fight was won by ILWU members who stood on the tracks, those who were prepared to come and stand behind them, and by union members around the world.
But where was the AFL-CIO when the ILWU was fighting for its existence? It was absent. Its leadership was actively asking the state federations in Washington and Oregon NOT to pass resolutions supporting us, calling the International Transport Workers Federation and asking them to stay out of this fight.
We were hopeful when Richard Trumka was elected president of the AFL-CIO. We were promised the Employee Free Choice Act and a robust public option in the health care plan. Instead we were invited to a reception to thank the representatives who voted to tax our health care.
Is the AFL-CIO part of the solution or part of the problem? Should the ILWU be in or out? I want this decision made before the end of this week. This will be a big historical moment for us. Our union has always fought for our vision. Look around at the pensioners. They have been fighting all their lives and will fight till their dying breath. Our efforts have inspired working people and activists around the world. When we take on these fights we win respect for standing up for what’s right. It’s not just about unions, it’s about public support.
The ILA on the East Coast is in negotiations with the United States Maritime Association. They are confronting many of the same issues we are, and we have pledged them our full support. If we can learn from our recent struggles, we can honor our legacy and continue to make our contributions for years to come. Welcome to the ILWU’s 35th Convention. Never forget: United we stand, divided we fall. An injury to one is an injury to all.”