Clerks' local 63 Secretary Peter Peyton (left) presents the union's political action plan as International President Bob McEllrath looks on. Photo by Tom Price.
The ILWU International Executive Board met in its San Francisco headquarters Dec. 7 and 8 to review the union’s finances, political and legislative program and its organizing efforts.
International President Bob McEllrath opened the meeting by introducing the officers of the ILWU’s new affiliate, the American Radio Association, the radio operators aboard ships (see sidebar page 3). As a maritime union with a long-time relationship with the ILWU and a tradition of rank-and-file democracy, both sides agreed it would be a good fit.
The union trustees met the day before and scrutinized the union’s budget and expenses. They reported to the board that the union was in the black and on track to build its reserves. International Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams walked the board through the details of the expenses for the first three quarters of 2006, explaining particulars and answering questions.
Clerks’ Local 63 Secretary Peter Peyton, who along with Secretary-Treasurer Adams and the union’s Washington, D.C. office, had helped devise the union’s political action strategy and fundraising, reviewed the results of the union’s 2006 activities and presented an outline of the union’s plan for the 2008 election cycle.
Peyton said that in the 2004 presidential election the ILWU set a goal of raising half a million dollars—more than it had ever done—to help labor friendly politicians win office, and was successful. The union also mobilized its members, sending them out across the country to work on campaigns in battleground states.
In the 2006 mid-term election the union did not raise as much—only about $221,000—but used the money wisely and successfully. More importantly, the union got more of its members involved in the campaigns. Of the politicians the ILWU gave money to, 57 won their races and only 12 lost.
Peyton pointed out that the ILWU led the way in backing California Congressional candidate Jerry McNerney who went on to defy all predictions and defeat seven-term Bush hatchet man Richard Pombo. McNerney had planned to come to the board’s meeting to personally thank the ILWU for its support, but at the last minute was summoned to Washington, D.C. by new House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to attend a “boot camp” for freshmen Congressional representatives.
“Our success was incredible, but we can do even better,” Peyton said.
The IEB discusses the union's political action plan. From left to right: Hawaii Local 142 representative Kenneth Inge, Columbia River Area representatives Jerry Ylonen and George O'Neil, Puget Sound Area representative Max Vekich, IBU National President Alan Cote, and Northern California Area representatives Fred Pecker and Richard Cavalli. Photo by Tom Price.
The ILWU now plans to use what it has learned in the last two elections in fundraising and member mobilization. It’s goal for the 2008 presidential election will be to raise $1 million, the same amount Wal-Mart contributes.
“We should go toe-to-toe with Wal-Mart,” Peyton said. He added that the dollar amount was less important than building rank-and-file participation in the political action program, and that it would be better to get a five dollar contribution from 20 members than $100 dollars from one.
Vice President, Mainland Joe Radisich presented his report on the organizing program, focusing mostly on the Blue Diamond almond processing campaign in Sacramento and the Rite Aid warehouse campaign in Lancaster, Southern California. Organizing Director Peter Olney gave a brief presentation on those two efforts and how the employers’ aggressive anti-union activities in both cases would be blunted if Congress were to pass the Employee Free Choice Act. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) and Congressman George Miller (D-CA), would change current labor law and level the playing field for workers trying to organize. The board went on to pass a Statement of Policy in support of the bill (see page 3).
The Hawaii Local 142 delegation updated the board on an issue that had been discussed at length at the International Convention in Vancouver, B.C. last May—the closure of the Del Monte pineapple fields and cannery. At the convention delegates from the 700-employee operation reported that in February 2006 the company announced it was closing up shop and leaving Hawaii in two years and moving their pineapple production to Guatemala where labor costs are lower.
The announcement came as a surprise to the workers. In 2004 they negotiated a five-year contract to give the company stability in its costs.
“Del Monte had been in Hawaii for 100 years and they indicated they would be here for another 100 years,” Local 142 President Fred Galdones said.
The local immediately went into “effects” bargaining, asking the company for enhanced severance pay, extended medical benefits and financial assistance with keeping the workers’ plantation housing and community. Del Monte would agree to nothing, so the convention passed a resolution supporting the workers’ proposals, and the delegates signed a petition calling on the company to agree to them. The local continued talking with the company, but on Nov. 17 Del Monte announced it was accelerating its closure plans and would shut down in 60 days. Again, the local asked for assistance for the hundreds of workers who not only faced unemployment and the loss of health care for their families, but possible eviction from their homes.
Again, the company has refused to make any commitments to the workers who built its business for decades. So in response the board voted unanimously for a Statement of Policy calling on ILWU families to boycott all Fresh Del Monte produce (see page 3).
The board also reviewed the report of the International Balloting Committee that oversaw the vote count of the last union election. It agreed to set up a subcommittee to look at the IBC’s recommendations for a smoother and more efficient election process that would report back to the board at its next meeting April 12-13.
—S.S.
