Northern California members discuss strategy: Cesar Garibay and Jose Nunez (Local 6), Bonnie Houston (seated) and Byron Moore (Local 10), and Jack Wyatt, Sr., Local 17.
ILWU members from all sections of the union gathered in Palm Springs, California, last month to participate in the latest Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) institute.
"This is the most diverse and representative group of participants we’ve had come out for this type of training," said ILWU International Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams.
The 85 participants, including 23 women, came from all industries and regions under the union’s jurisdiction to spend the week of Sept. 19-23 at the Riviera Resort learning about "the Tools and Traditions of Democracy" in the ILWU—which focused on how to run efficient, productive, and democratic membership meetings. Special attention was also paid to building personal skills in achieving effective decision-making and maximum member participation in the life of the union.
Participants exchange insights and experiences about challenges of working constructively with different kinds of personalities in their union and community (foreground, back to camera, Tony Flaherty [Local 7] and Rachel Lohse [Local 30}; left to right Marc Cuevas [Local 54], Karen Bonkoski [Local 5], Angel Blanco [Local 13], Jerry LeMaster [Alaska Longshore Division]).
"What we are about in the ILWU," said International President Jim Spinosa in his opening remarks, "is democracy—rank and file democracy from the bottom up in the ILWU and throughout organized labor. From real democracy we build real unity. "
The week-long program began with an overview by Professor Elaine Bernard of the Harvard University Trade Union Program about the importance of union democracy to members—and about how essential unions are in fighting for and defending democracy for all workers.
Joel Schaffer and Rick Oglesby of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service led a day-long workshop on how ILWU members can work better together in committees and meetings, and why rules are necessary in a democracy. Max Vekich, member of clerks Local 52 and the International Executive Board, presided over a lively session on Robert’s Rules of Order and other ILWU meeting procedures.
Skill-building sessions took place between several presentations about ILWU principles and traditions. Pensioner and former Coast Committeeman Bill Ward and Ian Ruskin of the Harry Bridges Project painted a picture of the democratic discussion and debate that swirled around negotiation of the historic longshore agreement in 1960 known as the Modernization and Mechanization Agreement. Ah Quon McElrath, retired Local 142 social worker, evoked the threats posed to civil liberties by anti-communism in the 1950s and anti-terrorism today. On Thursday, the participants rose to their feet in response to a stirring performance by Local 23 member Zeek Green about the plight of workers and the promise of solidarity.
University of Washington Professor David Olson delivers main presentation about trends in member participation in the ILWU as members of his research team from the UW Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies look on (Ali Boyd, Julianna Rigg, Jon Agnone).
A research team from the University of Washington’s Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies under the leadership of Professor David Olson reported on trends in member participation in the ILWU. The team, including graduate students Jon Agnone, Julianna Rigg, and Ali Waggener Boyd, also engaged the LEAD participants in a dynamic discussion about the core values of the ILWU to help the team develop a survey among new members about how union membership affects attitudes and opinions about a variety of workplace and union issues.
The nuts and bolts of financial administration and local autonomy were laid out by a panel of warehouse Local 17 Secretary-Treasurer Jack Wyatt Sr., IBU National Secretary-Treasurer Terri Mast and ILWU Research Director Russ Bargmann. What the participants learned about democracy and meetings and finances were put to the test in a lively afternoon of mock membership meetings convened to deal with declining member participation.
International Vice Presidents Bob McEllrath (standing, left) and Wesley Furtado (standing, right) discuss organizing in Hawaii with 142 members Dillon Hullinger, Stephen Castro, Abel Kahoohanohano and Patrick DeCosta (Back to camera).
ILWU Vice Presidents Bob McEllrath and Wesley Furtado participated throughout the week and, along with Coast Committeeman Joe Wenzl, helped facilitate Friday’s brainstorming session on new opportunities for organizing led by Organizing Director Peter Olney.
"This kind of brainstorming always helps us," said Olney. "We get new leads for organizing, which strengthens the entire union in every way imaginable."
Many of the conference materials will soon be available on the member section of the ILWU website (www.ilwu.org).
Talking about organizing in the Puget Sound area: Lance Anderson (Local 23 Tacoma), Chuck Cepeda (Local 19 Seattle), IBU national Secretary-Treasurer Terri Mast, Jeff Moore (Local 98 Seattle), Coast Committeeman (Northwest) Joe Wenzl.
–Gene Vrana, ILWU Director
of Educational Services
–Photos by Frank Wilder, ILWU clerical staff
