ILWU International President Robert McEllrath
For many years, I’ve shared my thoughts in these President’s Columns, but this one has been the most difficult.
By the time you read these words, I’ll be making two big changes in my life; preparing to step down as your President and retiring from the union that I’ve loved for fifty years. The time is right for both these decisions, but that hasn’t made it any easier.
I can honestly say that serving our union has been the most rewarding and challenging experience in my life – aside from meeting my wife Sally and raising our family together. I often think about our union as another kind of family, and I know many of you feel the same way – especially when it comes time to think about retirement and leaving behind many of the people and places where we’ve worked, often over many decades.
But soon I’ll be a pensioner where I’ll ease into my new role and go back to “basic Bob” as a pensioner – with fewer meetings, less responsibility and a lot more time for my family and grandchildren.
So in the few weeks left while I’m still serving as your President, I’ll share a few final thoughts about what lies ahead for all of us.
Let’s begin with a question that some have asked: why am I stepping down now as President? That question was answered by our ILWU Constitution that requires anyone who reaches the age of 65 cannot run for international office. The ILWU is one of the few unions with this kind requirement, and I think it’s a good one. Our union is different. We aren’t scared by new leadership with fresh ideas to keep up with the changing times – especially when all unions – especially the ILWU – are fighting anti-union campaigns in a hostile world.
Our newly-elected ILWU leaders will be voted on and sworn in when all the rank-and-file ballots are tallied. We’re also one of the few unions that elect our officers this way, directly from the membership, with each member getting an equal voice and vote. This is important because it prevents our union from becoming a bureaucratic organization, a problem that has plagued other unions.
Whoever the rank-and-file chooses, they will be facing some tough challenges. It is essential that we all get behind the new leadership because if they fail we all fail. Here are some issues that the new team will have to tackle:
Automation on the docks and warehouses. It started with clerk technology and then automation in LA and Long Beach, and it’s likely to spread in the years ahead. We’ve learned a few things, including the fact that employers are reluctant to make these huge investments on their own. They want and expect public subsidies to reduce their risk and ensure their profit. This gives us an opportunity to shape the debate around automation – by taking an independent view and looking into alternatives, such as electric dock equipment with zero emissions that could still be driven by ILWU members. We may also want to look at apprenticeship and training programs to protect our jurisdiction and prevent employers from claiming that we aren’t qualified for certain jobs. Warehouse and production jobs are also being automated, so learning from the experience at Rite Aid’s Distribution Center in Lancaster and other locations is important.
Opposition in the courts and NLRB. Employers are now using government and the courts to attack unions in ways that we haven’t seen for a century. The recent Janus ruling for unionized public employees is a great example of the hostile environment we are up against. The number of strikes has fallen to a new low and the National Labor Relations Board is now being stacked with anti-union officials. The same thing is happening to our federal courts, from the Supreme Court down to local District Courts, where record numbers of new justices who oppose unions and worker rights are being appointed. This makes it more difficult for us to get a fair hearing and easier for employers to use the courts and Labor Board against us.
Despite obstacles, organizing new members remains essential. Workers all around us continue to ask for our help with organizing so they can become part of the labor movement. Young people and immigrants seem especially excited about organizing, along with everyone else who sees the economy being rigged against them in favor of corporate America and the richest one-percent. We have to find ways to assist and welcome these new members into our union. Failing to do so will cause us to decline over time, both in terms of numbers and power.
Finding ways to make political action easier and more natural for ILWU members isn’t something I like to talk about, because I don’t care for politics and politicians, but I do know that both are important, for better or worse. Somehow – and I’m not sure how – we must do a better job of talking with our members about how politics and politicians impact our jobs and our families. Too many members aren’t registering or aren’t voting – and if we do – many are casting ballots for anti-union politicians. It’s not clear how to turn this around, but the problem won’t get better by ignoring it.
That’s enough from me about what may lie ahead. Our new leadership will have their hands full, and will be free to set their own priorities to help us move forward. Nonetheless, the ILWU will always live by its founding principles and continue the fight to protect our jobs, pensions, and welfare benefits.
The time has finally come after fifty years in this great union and 12 years as your President and 21 years total as an officer of the ILWU, to say goodbye and thank everyone for contributing to our union in so many ways.
I’ll begin by thanking the Pensioners who came before us, sacrificed so much and paved the way for us to follow in their footsteps. May we continue to honor their example and pass it along to future generations.
To the thousands of workers and family members who stuck together during strikes and lockouts in the recent decades, including longshore workers in Alaska, Canada, the Pacific Coast, and Hawaii, grain workers in the Northwest, Panama Canal pilots, families in Boron, recycling workers in the East Bay, Clerical workers, IBU members, hotel workers, and all the rest: I thank you. Together, all of you endured times of hardship with your families and made sacrifices for the sake of solidarity, stronger contracts with better wages and working conditions.
To the newest members of our union, who organized and won despite pressure from anti-union employers, attorneys and consultants who thought you’d fold under their pressure: Thank you for proving them wrong.
To the youngest members of our union who are trying to make your own way and contributions to our union: Thank you for seeking guidance from our pensioners as you inspire us with your energy, passion and solidarity.
To the overwhelming majority of rank-and-file members, who remain committed to the idea that we are all better and stronger when we stand together, despite our many differences: Thank you for standing by the union through thick and thin.
To all the Auxiliary members, who continue volunteering in ways large and small, day in and day out: Thank you for all your contributions to serve this union.
To the staff and officers who work for us in all the different locals, affiliates, and divisions of this union, including the Alcoholism and Drug Recovery Programs, Health and Welfare Programs, the Benefit Plans office, the office of Leonard Carder, and all of the support staff: I thank you all for your service to our union.
And to all of you who have supported me throughout the years, I thank you.
Finally, I’d like to thank my family for their endless patience and support, along with my deepest gratitude to every ILWU member – both present and departed – for allowing me the honor of serving you and this great union. Thank you and goodbye.
An injury to one is an injury to all.