Dufresne presents NDP leader Jack Layton with an ILWU hook pin. Photo by: Tom Price.
by Tom Price
ILWU Canada looked back and then forward at its 29th Convention /19th Biennial as it charted its course for the new century.
The union pledged during its March 21-24 gathering at its Maritime Labour Centre in Vancouver to continue working locally in municipal and provincial politics, nationally with the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) and the New Democratic Party (NDP), and internationally with the ILWU, the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), the International Transport Workers’ Federation and any workers who find themselves in distress.
The officers reported on the struggles of the last two years and on how the previous convention resolutions had been implemented. Many resolutions were proposed and voted on for the future. Guests from Australia, the U.S. and affiliates in Saskatchewan told their stories while the union’s allies in Ottawa reported on a political strategy for the next parliament.
In his opening remarks ILWU Canada President Tom Dufresne announced that the Convention would honor the memory of Canadian Area President Roy Smith and the nine local presidents who went to jail with him for three weeks 40 years ago.
"We will honor their legacy with a presentation to brother Les Copan at this convention," Dufresne said.
The 10 presidents were jailed for refusing to order their members back to work in a beef over unpaid holiday wages. Retired Local 501 President Les Copan is the last survivor. He was given a plaque at the banquet.
"They got out when the then-Minister of Labour changed the law to partially include longshore workers under Part 3 of the Canada Labour Code, and this year we will fight to be completely included under the Code," Dufresne said.
Convention guests included International Vice President Bob McEllrath; Hawaii Vice President Wesley Furtado; International Secretary-Treasurer William Adams and Coast Committeeman Joe Wenzl; MUA’s Asst. Secretary Jim Tannock; and NDP leader Jack Layton.
"We can’t do anything about yesterday, but today we can do something about tomorrow, and that’s why we’re here," McEllrath told the convention. "When we leave here we will do something about tomorrow, and tomorrow we’re going to do something about the next day."
McEllrath complimented ILWU Canada on its sense of global solidarity.
"In 2002, we were threatened with a military takeover of the docks," McEllrath said. "Do we really believe that we got through that by ourselves? Absolutely not. We did it with international solidarity. We had brothers and sisters in Canada, Australia, Japan, and others too many to name."
Officer reports
Dufresne’s President’s Report outlined the struggles of the last two years, particularly the ILWU’s fight against a security screening system that would impose invasive background checks on dockers that could lead to dismissal without appeal.
"The union is still waiting for an answer from the Justice Dept. on several issues, including privacy," Dufresne said.
The union wants to raise the threshold on any screening from "reasonable suspicion to reasonable cause" and establish a real appeals process.
The ILWU will maintain its vice presidency in the CLC and work with maritime unionists coast to coast through the Maritime Workers Council, Dufresne reported.
First Vice President Chad O’Neill helped negotiate numerous contracts, including ones for Local 517 with Nanaimo Port Authority and Squamish Terminals. He represented the ILWU on the B.C. Federation of Labour’ committees on organizing and strike coordination.
Second Vice President Tim Footman reported on his meetings with Immigration Canada over the issue of foreign, non-union crews loading logs. Footman also reported on his trip to Alaska to picket Carnival Cruise Line’s decision not to use ILWU labor to load its ships. The union recaptured that work in June 2005.
Third Vice President Al Le Monnier reported on safety issues. The union has reviewed the proposed changes to the Canada Shipping Act, including changes in cargo handling regulations, and will make its voice heard on all of these. The union is also pressuring for improved Marine Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, and will continue to oppose the employers’ proposed vertical tandem lifts, the dangerous practice of lifting more than one container at a time.
Secretary-Treasurer Ken Bauder gave an eye-witness report on the defeat of European Union’s efforts to deregulate and casualize dockers’ work. Bauder reported that the union’s finances are in good shape. The delegates voted for a dues increase of $2 per month beginning in 2006.
Resolutions
The convention congratulated the crew of the ferry Queen of the North for their heroic efforts in rescuing 99 out of 101 persons on board after the 8,806-ton ferry sank 70 miles south of Prince Rupert March 24. The resolution also called for an independent investigation into the cause of the accident, and a safety review of other single-compartment vessels in service.
• ILWU Canada will continue to oppose the privatization and deregulation of the economy.
• Free-trade agreements continue to close Canadian factories and erode the government’s power to act on behalf of citizens in a sovereign manner. ILWU Canada reaffirmed its opposition to them and will lobby and protest for their repeal.
• ILWU Canada continues to demand an immediate withdrawal of all foreign troops from Iraq and will participate in further demonstrations. The delegates resolved to increase their solidarity with the Iraqi people, especially those in the trade union movement.
• The union will work with the Council of Canadians to oppose "deep integration" of the Canadian and U.S. economies. That policy would mean losing national control of oil and natural gas, and the loss of sovereignty over fresh water, social programs, defense and culture.
• The delegates reaffirmed their commitment to bargain benefits for pensioners.
• Since container service growth is happening inland, the ILWU should target that growth for organizing.
• The ILWU will send representatives to the April 28 Day of Mourning ceremonies to observe one minute of silence at 11 a.m. that day on the job.
• Resolved to hire a full-time organizer, when deemed necessary by the organizing committee.
• The Convention called for the creation of a commission to study the causes of increased log exports while Canadian jobs in milling are being exported.
• The ILWU asks the CLC to study the formation of a new Bill of Rights for Canadians. It should guarantee better health care, children free of poverty, water free of toxins, justice for First Nations, greener sovereign national industries, progressive tax laws, pay equity, schools, jobs, university for youth, proportional representation, a strengthened Labour Code, peaceful fair trade and the demilitarization of the economy.
Speakers
Wesley Furtado reported on ILWU activities in Hawaii. Container growth is butting up against real estate interests, and the union is working to assure the ports maintain their maritime roles and jobs.
"We are involved in the Hawaii Harbor Users Group, and we are down at the legislature talking to the politicians and asking them for funding to expand and upgrade the facilities," Furtado said.
Coast Committeeman Joe Wenzl reported on longshore activities in the U.S.
"We established education programs because we used to be able to teach each other in the hold of the ship, and that has all changed, our work is different, we’re separated from each other," Wenzl said. "We also adopted a public relations strategy so we have our people trained to talk to the media and to our communities about the value the union brings to the community."
Grain Services Union President Michael Raine carried greetings to the convention from the prairies.
"In the ports you know us by our grain, potash, meat, steel, pipe, petroleum, but most we want we want you to know us by our solidarity," Raine said. He went on to list the numerous industries represented by GSU-ILWU (meat, food and fish processing, stores, warehouses, transportation, hotels and restaurants) and the recent victories they have had in organizing and legislative action.
Resale, Wholesale Department Store Union Secretary-Treasurer Chris Banting reported on its Local 454’s strike at Sobey’s groceries in Regina, Saskatchewan.
"We have held the line since last September and the company is really feeling it," Banting said. Delegates voted to donate one day’s per diem payments to the strikers.
The CLC’s Georgetti praised ILWU Canada for its commitment to solidarity. He reported that Canada’s Parliament had passed a protection plan for workers’ paychecks and pensions when employers go bankrupt.
"Everything we have to get, we have to struggle for. Everything we got, we fought for. And everything we are going to have as rights, we have to fight to keep," Georgetti said.
The MUA’s Jim Tannock gave a detailed report on harsh new labor laws being imposed Australian workers.
"The government’s strategy was to wipe out the two strongest unions in Australia, the CFMEU mining division and the MUA," Tannock said. "It didn’t work. So now they have another strategy—to undermine our conditions."
The law allows employers with 100 or fewer workers to fire them for no reason at all. Larger companies can fire anyone for vague "operational reasons." Employers will be able to force individual contracts on workers and fire them if they refuse. The new law undermines union agreements and allows employers to set new deals on overtime pay and shift premiums.
The NDP’s Jack Layton praised the support the ILWU gave in recent elections.
"One thing about the ILWU is you know what side you are on," Layton said. "I’m proud to lead the party that is supported by your union and is on the side of working people."
Fraternal delegates included pensioners Frank Kennedy, Mike Marino and Bill Duncan; and Jean Ordano, President, Federated Aux-iliaries. Representatives from affiliated unions included: the Retail, Wholesale, and General Division President Fred Roycroft and its Provincial Representative Brian Debeck; RWDSU President Diane Melrose and its Secretary-Treasurer Chris Banting; Grain Services Union President Michael Raine and its General Secretary Hugh Wagner.
The convention nominated candidates for its upcoming national elections. Dave Pritchett will challenge incumbent Tom Dufresne for President; First Vice President Bob Ashton is unopposed; Pat Bolen will run against incumbent Tim Footman for Second Vice President; Third Vice President Al Le Monnier is unopposed; and Gordon Westrand will challenge incumbent Secretary-Treasurer Ken Bauder.
Ballots must be returned to the locals by April 21, the locals will send the ballots to ILWU Canada by April 28. Results will be announced May 1.
