Historic election: Keith Shanklin was elected as the first African-American president of ILWU Local 34. Before joining the ILWU as a casual in 1996, Shanklin served in the US Navy. He was stationed on board the aircraft carrier Enterprise during the filming of the movie, “Top Gun” and appears in several scenes.
Sitting in his office, newly elected ILWU Local 34 President Keith Shanklin recalls the first time that he saw the working waterfront. “I remember going to an amusement park in Long Beach called the Pike which had a view of the Port,” Shanklin said. He remembered looking out and seeing the cranes and rows of containers. “Of course I had no idea then that this industry would become my life and make me what I am today.” Shanklin would become the first African-American President of Local 34 when members elected him their president on January 17th.
In 1996, Shanklin began his longshore career as a casual at Local 10. He entered the industry through the lottery system after completing a 12-year hitch in the Navy as an aircraft mechanic. He still remembers the day that he struggled out of bed with a high fever in order to wait in line and enter the lottery. After winning the lottery and starting to get occasional work as a casual, the Alameda Naval Base was closed and he had to take another job in the small town of Herlong, CA, located about 70 miles north of Reno.
Long commute
“I do believe that I had one of the longest commute of any casual,” said Shanklin. He’d drive down when the dispatch phone message said there was plenty of work and stay for several days before returning to Herlong. “I’d take any job that came up, from cleaning the parking lot to lashing a ship.” His persistence and hustle paid off when Shanklin found himself at the top of the promotion list, becoming a “B-book registrant” after working two-and- a-half years as a casual – which was fast by today’s rate. “The wait times are much longer now because the industry has changed,” he said. Back then, employers needed tractor drivers, so Shanklin and other newly-registered longshore workers immediately got heavy equipment training. He received his A-book in another year and a half. Shanklin also credits the waterfront culture for his chance to advance. He thanked more experienced workers for sharing their knowledge with him and others who were just learning. “You have to teach for another to learn,” he says. “We have to help our new brothers to come up – and not let them struggle on their own.”
Finding mentors
Early in his career, Shanklin was drawn to political activism and is grateful to those who mentored him, including Leo Robinson, Clarence Thomas, and Henry Grahm. He says they “took me under their wings and motivated me to go forward,” adding that Leo Robinson was especially helpful in teaching him about trade unionism.
Giving back
“I believe the union is here for one reason – to make sure workers have a chance to provide for their families,” Shanklin said. “I also believe that a union member has to give back to their community and their union. It’s not just about collecting your paycheck. You have to give back. As an activist, Shanklin was an officer in the Million Worker March, a gathering of over 10,000 labor activists at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC on October 17, 2004, that was founded by Local 10 members Trent Willis, Clarence Thomas, and Leo Robinson. Shanklin also volunteered to serve on the Local 10 Executive Board and Grievance Committee. He said serving on those committees and attending educational programs put on by the Longshore Division gave him tools he needed to become an elected officer.
Transfer to Local 34
In 2002, Shanklin transferred from Local 10 to Local 34. He said he transferred to explore the clerical side and because it was less stress on the body. He excelled as a clerk because he was good with computers and at solving puzzles.
“I used to do a lot of puzzles when I was a kid, and that is basically what a clerk does. The only difference is that you are dealing with containers full of cargo that are very important to someone far away. You have to make sure you’re on top of your game.” Shanklin is also passionate about politics but took a step back more than a decade ago to focus more time on his family, but eventually returned to his activist roots.
Encouraged to step-up
He credits outgoing Local 34 President David Gonzales for encouraging him to run for his new position. “It’s a unique honor to be elected the first African-American president of this local. I appreciate the membership for putting me in this position to serve them and be the voice they need to enforce the contract. We have a strong employer who fights us tooth and nail, every single day. My job is to ensure
that we provide a good service and return home safe at the end of the day, that we continue to make this industry safer, our clerks more knowledgeable and that we pass on the ILWU tradition of solidarity to the next generation.”