Unity and strength at the Longshore Division Contract Caucus

Elected delegates from 29 West Coast ports met to discuss the priorities in the upcoming negotiations for a new Longshore & Clerks Contract. (Top row, left to right): ILWU International President Willie Adams, ILWU International Vice President (Mainland) Bobby Olvera, Jr; (Bottom row, left to right): Coast Committeeman Frank Ponce De Leon, Coast Committeeman Cam Williams.

Close to 100 delegates from 29 West Coast ports from San Diego, CA, to Bellingham, WA, who were elected by members of the ILWU’s Longshore Division, met in Long Beach, CA from January 31-February 11 to debate and adopt the priorities for a new Longshore & Clerks Contract. The current contract expires on July 1, 2022.

The in-person meeting followed strict COVID protocols to protect delegates, guests, and staff. Masks were required at all times indoors, and everyone who attended the caucus was required to pass a daily COVID test.

In keeping with COVID safety protocols and local regulations regarding indoor meeting size, only a small number of fraternal delegates and guests were allowed to attend. Among the guests were ILWU President Emeritus James Spinoza and ILWU President Emeritus Robert McEllrath.

Dedications

The caucus was dedicated to the memories of those who recently passed. Delegates took to the mic to read into the record the names of members and pensioners whom we have lost throughout the pandemic.

The recent, sudden passing of Local 46 President Warren Shelton, who was a caucus delegate, hit particularly hard. A memorial wreath with his photo and caucus credentials was placed in the meeting hall for the duration of the caucus.

Guest speakers

On the first day of the caucus, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia, PhD, welcomed the delegates and thanked the ILWU for their work moving cargo through the ports.

“I want to thank you for moving the regional economy of California. When people look at everything in their homes, when they’re thinking and talking about the supply chain, the most important part of that supply chain is the people,” Mayor Garcia said. “It’s the people that are actually moving the cargo. When you talk about investing in infrastructure, there’s no better investment than investing in people.” Mayor Garcia was followed by Mario Cordero, Executive Director of the Port of Long Beach, and Gene Seroka, Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles. Director Seroka recognized the hard work, sacrifice, and heroism of ILWU members for moving cargo at record levels throughout the pandemic.

Director Cordero said the pandemic-induced supply chain crisis provides an opportunity for transformational change by moving to a 24/7 supply chain model. Cordero thanked the ILWU, which has long supported 24/7 gates for decades, and said that it was time for the rest of the supply chain to follow this lead. “It may not happen tomorrow, but at some point, it needs to happen,” Cordero said.

Honoring Black history

In recognition of Black History Month, Local 10 delegate Trent Willis rose to recognize notable past and present Black ILWU members, including honorary members of the union.

He also thanked the body and the longshore locals for supporting Local 10’s call in 2020 to celebrate Juneteenth, a holiday commemorating the emancipation of African-American slaves in 1865.

“We all took our holiday on that day. That was a very great moment. That was historic. We all decided to lay down our tools in honor of brother George Floyd, and in honor of Juneteenth,” Willis said.

“I just wanted to also add that, as a Black man, I’m very proud to be a member of a union that is inclusive, that has always given me the right to stand before you and say exactly what I feel,” said Willis. “Our union has come a long way. We’ve had our struggles. We’ve put tools in place to make us one of the most inclusive, and one of the most progressive unions in the world. I’m very proud to be a member of this organization. I wear my tags every day. And I’ll go down fighting for this union.”

Afterward, other delegates followed suit by honoring the important contributions made by African-American ILWU members to the history of the union. A few of the highlights among the dozens recognized included:

• Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader and honorary member of ILWU Local 10.
• Frank Jenkins, Jr., Local 19 LRC representative with a fellowship in his name at the University of Washington.
• George Cobbs, pioneer of the union’s ADRP program to support recovery.
• Josh Williams, Captain of the award-winning ILWU Local 10 Drill Team.
• Gravett Brothers – Phil, Leon, Harry, Curtis and Willie, beloved members of Local 63.
• Venetta Hamlin, Local 10 member who’s among the women who have “done everything a man can do on the waterfront.”

Local 40 delegate and Caucus Chair George O’Neill acknowledged Eugene Manning, Billy Rhymes, Tony Douglas, Pat Miles, Bobby Barber, and Verl Green, Jr and Sr, as some of his Black colleagues who helped O’Neill, who is white, enter the industry decades ago.

“These guys would help you and teach you,” said O’Neill. “But I don’t think they always got the help they gave to me.”

Melvin Mackay of Local 10 rose to acknowledge the fatal police shooting of aspiring Black musician Amir Locke during a no-knock warrant at Locke’s home in Minnesota, as a sign that the national problem of racism is persistent and devastating. “It’s always, ‘you’re guilty until proven innocent,’” said Mackay.

Local 13 President Ramon Ponce de Leon rose to recognize President Willie Adams, the first Black ILWU International President, to which delegates rose to their feet in a standing ovation.

Democratic debate

The caucus process is a part of the union’s democratic tradition. It is led by delegates representing each West Coast port who were elected by rank-and-file members of the ILWU’s Coast Longshore Division. Throughout the two-week caucus, resolutions that originated from the Longshore Division locals containing ideas, suggestions and priorities for the new contract were brought forward for debate and discussion.

One by one, the resolutions were carefully discussed and were passed, defeated, tabled, amended combined, or withdrawn.

Safety, wages, benefits, jurisdiction & technology

The resolutions for the upcoming contract generally revolved around five issues: safety, wages, benefits, jurisdiction, and technology. Reports from Committees covering benefits, technology, legislative, and provided delegates with further details and analysis to inform the debate about the resolutions.

Negotiating Committee selected

On the last day, the Caucus delegates and alternates were selected to sit on the main Contract Negotiating Committee along with delegates and alternated to serve on the Safety Sub-Committee, who will join with the Coast Committee Officers to lead the contract talks.

Solidarity from the pensioners

Pacific Coast Pensioners Association President Greg Mitre pledged their support and solidarity to the active membership.

“You have a lot of pensioners who are retired from the job but not the struggle, and we are ready, willing, and able to support the active membership in any way we can,” he said.

Negotiating priorities

President Adams said that the caucus showed the ILWU was unified. “We are a democratic union, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The membership gave us the direction for negotiations and we are ready to go get the best possible agreement,” Adams said. “We’re coming out of this caucus as strong as we’ve ever been. We are moving forward and moving in the same direction.”