ILWU Longshore Caucus delegates reconvened in San Francisco on July 21 and 22 to review the status of ongoing Longshore contract negotiations.
Caucus Chair Joe Cortez quickly brought the session to order, then turned over the podium to International President Bob McEllrath who asked delegates to dedicate their meeting in memory of former Local 13 member and Caucus delegate Alberto Bonilla, who died unexpectedly on May 17 at the age of 43. His son, Albert Bonilla, Jr., attended the Caucus and was recognized by delegates with a warm and sustained standing ovation.
Other dedications for fallen members included Armando Castro and Dwayne Washington from Local 10 in the Bay Area; former Local 12 President Wally Robbins of Coos Bay, Oregon; Night Business Agent and Executive Committee member John “Johnny Canuck” Collins from Local 502 of Surrey, British Columbia, Canada; Gerald Pirtilla of Local 52 in Seattle and Jeffrey Jewell of Local 24 in Aberdeen.
The 88 Caucus delegates were joined by dozens of fraternal representatives from Hawaii, Alaska and Canada who came to express their solidarity, along with many Pensioners who attended from the Bay Area and beyond.
McEllrath recognized International Vice President-Hawaii, Wesley Furtado who attended with Hawaii Longshore Division Negotiating Chairman Elgin Calles, Co-Chairman Dustin Dawson, Spokesman William Haole and Business Agent Dennis Morton. Chairman Elgin Calles provided a brief overview of the Hawaii Longshore Division’s contract negotiation effort, noting that they have been in talks with their employers for about two months.
Also recognized was ILWU Canada President Mark Gordienko who attended the Caucus with Business Agent Reno Voci. “I’ve made it clear to our employers that we won’t be touching any U.S.-bound cargo if there’s trouble,” said Gordienko. He also described how ILWU Canada members have been conducting outreach efforts to educate crewmembers on grain ships involved in the lockout by Mitsui-United and Columbia-Marubeni Grain companies. “When those ships come north, we’re talking with crewmembers and educating them about the ILWU struggle.”
Delegates thanked outgoing Puget Sound and Washington Area Benefits Director Nick Buckles, who is retiring at the end of July. His replacement, Andrea Stevenson, was recently appointed by the Plan Trustees. The former Local 52 President and 3rd generation longshore worker from Seattle thanked Nick Buckles, saying she had “big shoes to fill.”
McEllrath outlined the status of the negotiations, emphasizing the Committee’s efforts to maintain good health and pension benefits. He said the ILWU has consistently worked to see that the health plans operate properly, and has long urged employers to come forward with any evidence of waste or abuse so it can be addressed without harming beneficiaries. McEllrath noted a July 16 announcement by federal prosecutors that three individuals associated with a private surgical center in Southern California have been charged with defrauding several insurance plans, including the ILWU/ PMA Coastwise Indemnity Plan.
McEllrath minced no words, saying: “I’m glad to see that the government’s doing their job. Crooks who break the law and take advantage of our health care plans belong in jail.”
Local 13 President Bobby Olvera, Jr. was equally passionate about protecting the health plan from fraud. “I was born into this plan and our families depend on it. Anyone who defrauds us is harming our families – and all the members who came before us who sacrificed so we can enjoy these benefits today. The people who perpetrate fraud against our plan deserve no mercy as far as I’m concerned.”
The Caucus did not set a time to reconvene, but President McEllrath said delegates should be ready to meet quickly at a future date that will be dictated by the progress – or lack of progress – at negotiations.
“We’ve got a plan to get things done that meets the goals adopted by the Caucus, but I can’t tell you how soon we will finish. Just keep pumpin’ and don’t listen to any rumors,” he said.