by Tom Price

The Longshore, Clerk and Walking Boss Caucus met April 30 through May 4 in San Francisco to set the course of the Longshore Division through 2008. The Caucus is comprised of 85 delegates and presided over by International President Bob McEllrath, Mainland Vice President Joe Radisich, and Coast Committeemen Ray Ortiz Jr. and Leal Sundet.

The delegates, elected from up and down the coast, debate policy and provide direction for the Coast Committee and the Longshore Division of the ILWU. International Vice President, Hawaii Wesley Furtado and Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams, who is a delegate from longshore Local 23, also attended.

President McEllrath called the Caucus to order Monday morning. He began by saying the Longshore Division was growing by “leaps and bounds” with longshore Local 13 reaching 8,000 registrants in the near future and the Division reaching 14,000 coastwise.

“The membership needs to be educated on our medical benefits, pensions, and on being good trade unionists,” McEllrath said. “Concerning the upcoming contract negotiations, our main issues will be maintenance of benefits and the hiring hall.”

By the end of the week, the delegates had a plan to prepare the union for up coming negotiations with the employers, the Pacific Maritime Assn. (PMA). In preparation, the delegates addressed major topics such as member education, legislative action, safety, publicity and international solidarity. Another caucus will meet before actual negotiations begin.
The Caucus voted to authorize the International President and the Coast Committee to establish a timetable for negotiations with the PMA. Bargaining issues like maintenance of benefits and the hiring hall were also on deck.

The Caucus took action sustaining the education and political actions programs—building international docker relations with Mexico, and supporting longshore workers in Canada. The Caucus answered president McEllrath’s call to fund a positive publicity campaign with a million dollars. The Caucus also discussed the Transport Worker Identification Card (TWIC).
Education Committee

Chair Dennis Brueckner, now with walking bosses’ Local 91, read the Education Committee’s report. The Longshore Education Class project is gathering educational materials from the locals and the Coast Committee will decide on funding and distribution, the report said.

Last April the committee proposed holding “Contract Grievance and Arbitration Procedures Workshops.” This year’s report recommended holding these at times coinciding with local elections. These workshops will train new local officers and members in handling arbitrations and grievances and provide them with tools for effective leadership.
The report recommended “Con-tract Preparation Workshops” be held up and down the coast after the Contract Caucus and before 2008 contract bargaining. A new proposal for a ‘B’ registrant educational program, to be held monthly, was approved.

The Caucus moved to commended Brueckner for his many years of work for the Division as a member, and later chair, of the Education Comm. It passed unanimously.
International Relations

ILWU Canada President Tom Dufresne informed the Caucus of Canada’s longshore bargaining difficulties and read into the record the International Executive Board’s Statement of Policy in support of Canadian negotiations [see story p. 3]. The Caucus moved to support Canada in its negotiations.
“This is a good motion,” McEllrath said. “The International Executive Board will be in Canada [for its next meeting] to support you.”
McEllrath discussed meetings between the ILWU and Mexican dockers’ unions. The employers want the cheapest labor, McEllrath said. “The ILWU wants to bring those workers up.”
The ILWU will host the International Dockworkers Council’s General Assembly this August.

Public Relations
The PR committee is moving from the “inside game” to the “outside game” as the year progresses, the report said. That means a movement towards media production, such as video and ads for radio and TV. These ads will stress the members many contributions to their society. Training for media spokespersons will continue and the committee will develop talking points on port security, saving lives, goods movement, safety, industry productivity and profitability, and health care.

Local 142 Secretary-Treasurer Guy Fujimura showed TV ads the local put up on Hawaiian TV. The ads received sustained applause and positive comments. International Vice President Joe Radisich screened 30 and 60-second PR videos produced for the union, and longshore Local 10’s Felipe Riley played ILWU radio spots and remarked that enhancing the Local’s public image was a priority. Committee chair Dave Arian, longshore Local 13, reported the video “Eye of the Storm” would be shown up and down the Coast. It will be distributed to members with an envelope for Political Action Fund (PAF) contributions.

The committee reported the ILWU Local 10 Drill Team had participated in three events, and recommended it do more. It also reported the Saving Lives Campaign has given the committee insight into how to build a Coastwise PR effort. The Trade Show Booth was shown at the AFL-CIO Convention and at the Los Angeles Labor Day parade. The video “Eye of the Storm” was ready to go and there will be a “Black History and Labor” celebration for 2008. The ILWU web site received 445,000 hits, averaging 37,000 per month, the report said.
Legislative Committee

Marine clerks Local 52’s Max Vekich Jr. showed a five-minute video and gave the Legislative Comm. report. Money is critical in order for members to take the ILWU message to battle ground states, he said, “the march inland will be political.”

“The ILWU Longshore Division is a step closer to a new Coastwise contract following the election of Democratic majorities to both chambers of Congress,” the report read. “Organized labor, specifically the ILWU and the AFL-CIO, played a significant, if not instrumental, role in electing the new majority.”

Contributions by rank-and-filers to the PAF and to candidates directly supported these victories, the report said. As a result, many of labor’s foes were defeated and many friends were elected. According to the report, when legislative committee members visited Congress members’ offices, they were frequently asked, “what can our office do for the ILWU?” The members responded with a call for affordable, universal health care. The committee also worked for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would aid organizing by allowing workers to get card-check recognition.

Political Director Peter Peyton, marine clerks’ Local 63, reported on the Political Action Fund. Pensioner Lou Loveridge and longshore Local 23’s Mike Jagielski urged everyone to make PAF contributions. “A contribution to the PAF is job insurance,” the report read.
The Caucus took up a collection on the spot, raising $3,500.

Coast Safety Committee
The Safety Committee continues its mission of promoting safety for all longshore workers, clerks, and walking bosses/foremen through the applications of the Pacific Coast Marine Safety Code, OSHA regulations, and internal documents outlining safe work practices not addressed by either of these publications, the report read. The goal remains—the elimination of all workplace fatalities as well as the reduction of injuries and sickness.

Safety Comm. Chair John Castanho, Local 10, presented its report, and he reminded the Caucus that safety is a prime issue. The regulations are “written in blood,” he said.
The committee reported on Vertical Tandem Lifts, the practice of lifting two containers at a time. The union remains opposed to that practice because it is inherently unsafe to use semi-automatic twistlocks as hoisting gear instead of certified lifting mechanisms on the crane’s spreader bar. OSHA is expected to issue regulations soon on this practice, the report said.

The committee reported that particulate matter tests have been completed and the results have been linked from the ILWU web site under the Coast Safety Comm. link. The committee will push for “green” ports through negotiations and political lobbying, the report said.
Pension and Welfare Benefits Committee

The committee reported on a proposal from last year’s Caucus to review a proposal for an ILWU Life Insurance Program. Based on meetings with legal counsel, the Coast Benefits Specialist, the union actuary, the officers, and a company that designs life insurance programs, the committee unanimously recommended going ahead with the program. The Caucus approved, with the proviso that it should include pensioners.

“Throughout its discussions, your committee was guided by, and reconfirmed, the Division’s absolute commitment to Maintenance of Benefits (MOB), our Defined Benefit Pension Plan...,” the report said.

General Business
Before getting down to work Monday morning the Caucus observed long-standing tradition by taking a moment of silence for fallen brothers and sisters. Longshore Local 19’s Joe Aliseo, longshore Local 23’s Ken Eddo and the 56 members listed on the plaque of the Southern Calif. Longshore Memorial were honored. The Caucus also remembered Arbitrator David Selvin. Local 13 brothers Chuck Brady and Kevin Schroeder, who were ill, were also honored, as were the people recently murdered at Virginia Tech Univ.

The Caucus voted to attend the May Day rally for immigrant rights and to set aside time to view a model of the statue of Harry Bridges.
Coast Benefits Specialist George Romero spoke on the Alcohol and Drug Recovery Programs and their value to members in need. He introduced ADRP Coast Director Jackie Cummings. She introduced Directors Norman McLeod, Donnie Schwendeman and Jim Copp. Cummings spoke on the success of their work in recovery issues and she commended Jim Copp, who will retire this year after 27 years in the program and 41 years overall. Romero introduced the workers at the ILWU-PMA Benefits Plan Office, who received a standing ovation for their years of service. He also discussed the situation of benefits generally.

“Our Welfare Plan expenses have risen dramatically as stated in the Coast Committee Report, and are projected to increase further in the face of rising costs and the lack of a positive national health care policy,” Romero said.

Tuesday morning’s session began with a moment of silence in honor of Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald’s passing.
“She has helped Local 13 throughout the years and is one of the few people who are honorary members of ILWU Local 13,” Local 13 President Mike Mitre said.
President McEllrath began the Tuesday afternoon session with solidarity greetings from Paddy Crumlin, National Secretary of the Maritime Union of Australia. The Caucus also received greetings from the Congress of South African Trade Unions.

The Tuesday afternoon session began with President McEllrath introducing Senator Joe Biden Jr. (D-Del), a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination.
“At age 29, against almost impossible odds, he became one of the youngest people ever elected to the U.S. Senate, beating an incumbent Republican,” McEllrath said. “He never forgot where he came from. While most Senators live in Washington, he commutes home every night using public transportation to be with his wife of 30 years, Jill.”
“I became a Senator because I couldn’t get a [union] card down at the Port of Wilmington [Delaware],” Biden said, to laughter and applause. “You all think I’m kidding, don’t you?
“Look, all kidding aside, I am a U.S. Senator for one reason, because of organized labor. That is no malarkey. That’s not being solicitous with you.”
He also said the Bush administration was doing everything in its power to weaken organized labor.

“You are the only thing to keep the barbarians outside the gates,” Biden said. “There is nothing, nothing that stands before big business owning the whole deal. You are the people who built the middle class. Labor is the middle class.”

Biden discussed his opposition to the Iraq war and told the Caucus his plan would be to work with Islamic states to separate the major Iraq factions under a federated government and withdraw American troops.
The Caucus reconvened after the applause for Biden subsided. George Romero announced his retirement, to take place after the 2008 negotiations. The Caucus approved the appointment of Local 10’s John Castanho to fill the position.

Local 13’s Greg Mitre read the Cruise Ship Comm. report. The ILWU protected dockside work in Alaska by getting cruise ship jobs under union jurisdiction. Local 10’s Mike Villeggiante emphasized that cruise ship work puts the ILWU directly in contact with the public, and “we need to present a positive view of longshoremen,” he said.
Project Organizer Jan Gilbrecht presented a slide show on Alaska organizing. The Caucus moved to continue supporting Alaska organizing.
Mike Mitre, Local 13, read the Port Security Comm. report. He recommended continuing to establish relationships with the Coast Guard and maritime entities. President McEllrath said the TWIC program will be implemented and the union is working to get one consistent TWIC program for all ports.

Friday’s session began with Romero introducing the last group of BPO workers to the Caucus. The Caucus approved the Budget Comm. report and moved on to resolutions.

Honored guests included International President Emeritus Jim Spinosa, ILWU Canada President Tom Dufresne, Local 142 President Fred Galdones, Oahu Longshore Unit Chair Nate Lum, longshore Local 500 president Glen Bolkowy, and Pacific Coast Pensioners’ Assn. President Rich Austin. And as always, the pensioners, with their centuries of collective wisdom, who spoke from the floor of the Caucus.