Celebrating Rite Aid victory: At the PCPA’s 44th Convention that took place in Seatac, September 19-21, the Pacific Coast Pensioners Association presented a plaque to ILWU Local 26 members, Elizabeth Trevino and Debra Fontaine, to commemorate the recent contract victory with Rite Aid that was five years in the making. ILWU International Vice President Ray Familathe introduced Trevino and Fontaine both of whom served on the elected negotiating committee.
The banner of the Pacific Coast Pensioners Association reads: “Retired from the job…not from the struggle.” That same working class ideology was on display during the PCPA Convention from September 19 – 21, 2011 in Seattle, WA. Pensioners from up and down the coast traveled to the Pacific Northwest to take care of PCPA matters, hear from speakers, receive information, and have some fun and share camaraderie in the process.
“We are here to help. We are here to be of assistance to the entire union,” said PCPA President Rich Austin in his report. “If the going gets tough and any employer tries to chisel on what was negotiated, we pensioners are ready, willing and able to kick a little ass if need be. We are a resource, and if an outfit wants to screw with the benefits or jobs of any active or retired members or their loved ones, we pensioners will stand shoulder to shoulder with our Brothers and Sisters. Our officers know it and the rank and file does too. We receive great support from the active workforce. We appreciate all that they and the staff at the International and locals do for those of us
who are retired, and we’re here to help them whenever we can.”
Unity was evident throughout the convention. From welcoming Debra Fontaine and Elizabeth Trevino and presenting them with a plaque honoring the courageous workers of ILWU Local 26 and their successful struggle against Rite Aid, to pensioners pledging their unyielding support to the members of Local 21 in Longview, to applauding the report echoing the call for international solidarity delivered by Fred Krausert, National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia Veterans.
That theme was underscored by the presence of International President Bob McEllrath, Vice-President Ray Familathe, Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams, Coast Committeemen Ray Ortiz and Leal Sundet, and Local Presidents Joe Cortez (13) Dan Miranda (94) Jeff Smith (8) Pete McEllrath (92) Scott Mason (23) Cam Williams (19) Mike Rosebrook (32), and Alan Cote and Terri Mast of the IBU.
President McEllrath gave a talk that left no doubt in anyone’s mind that the ILWU is living up to its motto, “An injury to one is an injury to all,” and that the rank and file will defend what was inherited from their predecessors. Jeff Johnson, President of the Washington State Labor
Council, echoed the call for unity, and did more. He showed his grit by standing shoulder to shoulder with the brothers and sisters down in Longview a couple of weeks prior to the Convention.
Port of Seattle CEO, Tay Yoshitani, welcomed the delegates and then described how active and retired members can lobby Congress to support an equitable distribution of dollars destined for infrastructure repairs. He said the West Coast wants and deserves a level playing field.
Other speakers included Robby Stern, President of the Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans, who spoke of the need for coalition building and community outreach. Mark Dudzic, National Coordinator for the Labor Campaign for Single Payer warned that health care costs cannot be
sustained, hence the need for all workers to join forces and fight for a comprehensive, universal, accessible, affordable, quality national single payer health care program. Longtime ILWU friend, labor historian, and honorary member of Local 23, Dr. Ron Magden, gave an informative talk and pictorial history of early waterfront pioneers. Jim Gregory, Chair of the Harry Bridges Center for
Labor Studies, and Conor Casey, Labor Archivist at the Center, both spoke of the need for alliance building. Gregory said that the struggle in Longview is a symptom of the anti-union, anti-worker agenda of multinational corporations.
“They believe they are free to trample on the backs of U.S. workers,” said Gregory. Congressman Jim McDermott (DWA) also addressed the convention. He spoke of the mean-spirited agenda of Congressional Republicans, and otherwise pushed all the right buttons, but said little about some of his Democratic colleagues who often vote with the anti-worker right. Rep. McDermott is the only Congressional Progressive Caucus member from the state of Washington. Nearly all of his votes
help the working class, the glaring exception being his support for “free trade” schemes. Although to his credit, he did oppose the Colombian Free Trade Agreement. “If we had 300 Jim McDermotts in Congress the wars would end, we’d have single payer health care, and people would be put back to work,” said Rich Austin.
Herb Howe of the Vancouver, B.C. Pensioners Club gave a report on behalf of the Canadian Area. He dispelled myths about troubles with Canada’s health care system and told the delegates that Canadians are generally satisfied with what they have. He said that the same for-profit forces that are wreaking havoc in the U.S. are also at work in Canada trying to alter the nation’s health care system, but said that our neighbors to the North will fight like hell to make sure that does not happen.
Anita Nath and Alex Stone – two youthful activists from Washington – made it clear that young people are willing to defend Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. They declared that lawmakers and media hacks who tell us that Social Security is nearly insolvent are not telling us the
truth. It is solvent, safe, and does not add to yearly deficits or the national debt.
Lewis Wright of the Southern California Pensioners Group spoke about the need to support credit unions. He said working class people should use credit unions instead of doing business with the “bankster gangsters” who ran our county into the ditch.
Delegates and spouses enjoyed guided tours, a Sunday evening reception and a banquet on Tuesday night featuring good food and a dance band that got people on their feet.
Each Convention gives the Jesse and Lois Stranahan Award to an outstanding labor person, and this year’s award was presented posthumously to Art Mink, and was accepted by family members. Brother Mink was an activist, and held several offices in ILWU Local 19. Art is remembered as being “a man that had a great sense of humor, maintained a great optimism and faith in the
working class and gave selflessly so that others may benefit.” He was active until he passed away in March of 2011.
There is also a Friendly Politician award and this year’s recipient was Senator Spencer Coggs and thirteen of his Democratic colleagues from Wisconsin.
As you might recall they left the state rather than allow anti-worker, anti-union Republican Governor Scott Walker to trash public employees.
“The Wisconsin Fourteen made no effort to hide their support for workers. That stands in stark contrast to what the Democrats did here in Washington State. Many joined with their GOP bunkmates and passed union busting legislation. I asked Senator Coggs if he would travel to our state again to teach “Democrats” here what it means to be a real Democrat,” Austin said.
The convention was a huge success and plans are already underway for next year’s convention in San Pedro. The PCPA is ready to have a large turnout in Southern California.
– Rich Austin, President, PCPA