Where do we go in 2007? Back to the basics, that’s where!
The programs and policies of the ILWU provide a beacon for other workers. No one must ever take that for granted. Militant, democratic rank-and-file unionism is at the foundation of our successes.

What other outfit cares for actives, retirees, surviving spouses and dependents the way the ILWU does? We are all a family, and that is reflected in our union’s guiding principles.

Union education, increasing the membership of the PCPA, assisting the International as it works for a more militant labor movement and getting friends of labor elected to public office are all areas where we, the pensioners of the ILWU, can be of help.

Our International and Coast Committee have created educational programs. The PCPA member on the Education Committee is Al Perisho. His work is invaluable. Educating members means letting everyone know there is no middle ground. Either they’re with the union or they’re with enemies of labor. It cannot be both ways. No one can love the union one day, then abandon it on Election Day. No one can love the union all month, then abandon it on membership meeting night. No one can preach unionism while shopping at anti-union places like Wal-Mart, or Target or the Home Depot. There is no middle ground.

You are all teachers! Offer to make yourselves available at membership meetings. You can share your knowledge and experience, and participate in educational programs that dovetail with those of the International.

You can do more. You can contact other retirees who do not belong to your pensioners’ club and ask them to join. Urge them to come to meetings too. The more members we have, the more influential we become.

We all know that some labor chieftains in this country are reluctant to challenge the status quo. They raise hell on paper, but shy away from truly leading their ranks in the struggle for social and economic justice and peace.

That, however, is not the history of the ILWU. We have never played it cozy or checked to see which way the wind was blowing before we took a position. We have always been a militant union dedicated to helping working class people everywhere. Whenever our Officers or other workers have called for action, we’ve responded. That is and will forever be our heritage.

No doubt many of you helped get friends of labor elected on Nov.7. Good job! It is amazing what a united group of people can achieve!

National elections put the Democrats back in control of Congress. Some Democrats with over 95 percent lifetime pro-labor voting records will assume leadership positions on key committees. That is what we need—more friends of labor in leadership positions. By working with others you helped bring that about.

But we cannot rest. The policies of the ILWU that began in membership meetings, were then honed in committees, and finally adopted by rank-and-file delegates to our conventions are our marching orders. They are what we want Congress to support. We must commit ourselves to helping friends of labor get elected, and then make sure they do the right thing once they are in office.

At the last ILWU Convention in Vancouver, B.C., every resolution presented by the PCPA was adopted. With the PCPA’s help, we became one of the first International unions to endorse the United States National Health Insurance Act!

There are many good reasons for pensioners to be involved, and I want to mention two of them: 2002 negotiations and 2008 negotiations. No doubt you’ve already heard about the struggle we had in 2002. We may be in for a battle in 2008 as well. Actives and all the rest of us had better be prepared to do battle. If we are, it is unlikely that the employers will take us on.
In closing, I want to remind you that you are the engines. You are the power. You are the ones who have made this grand institution called the ILWU work, and you are still needed. I know you’ll respond just like you always have. And I know you’ll support the policies and programs of the ILWU just like you always have. Our slogan, “An injury to one is an injury to all” means just what it says. Help keep it alive!