The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has launched a new television advertisement which focuses on the dangers of waterfront work. The ad, which is the third in a series since September 2007, features ILWU Southern California Pensioners Group President Al Perisho and a montage of the heavy equipment longshore workers must maneuver each day in the course of their jobs.

The ad was produced by Jack Baric and Redtail Productions for the ILWU and will be airing on cable television networks in each of the major port cities along the West Coast: Los Angeles-Long Beach, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Tacoma.

Local 10's "Saving Lives Committee" regional representative Clarence Thomas and Coast Safety Negotiating Committee member Trent Willis attended back-to-back rallies and meetings in West Oakland on March 18 & 19 to express the union's concern about air pollution around the Port of Oakland that threatens the health of longshore workers and community residents. 

On Monday, March 18, the Coalition for Clean & Safe Ports--a group which includes the Teamsters and port drivers--hosted a rally in West Oakland with Local 10 officers and Executive Board members attending. The very next evening at a community hearing, the California Air Resources Board released draft results of a two-year public health risk assessment of the threat posed by diesel emission to those who live and work around the port.  Among the study's findings:  people living and working around the ports faced an "elevated cancer risk..due to exposure to diesel particulate matter than people living elsewhere."  Read the Air Resources Board's health risk assessment for West Oakland. 

ILWU Local 10 President Melvin MacKay, who joined the march on the 18th from Oakland City Hall to the Port offices, said:  "We're united with the community to fight together for good jobs, and cleaner air on the docks and in the neighborhoods." 

ILWU President Robert McEllrath and Democratic Presidential Candidate U.S. Senator Barack Obama at the San Francisco Labor Council in Summer 2007 (D-Ill.). Photo by John Showalter.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union endorsed Senator Barack Obama for President today, concluding he is “the best candidate for working families.”

International Executive Board members made the decision after meeting with different campaigns and examining their positions on key issues that will impact working families in the coming years, including:

• Bringing our troops home safely from Iraq.
• Re-thinking “free trade” agreements that have destroyed jobs.
• Making quality, affordable health care available to all Americans.
• Allowing workers to choose unions without employer intimidation.
  

“America’s working families are ready for a candidate with a fresh approach who will put people first and hold corporations more accountable,” said ILWU International President Bob McEllrath.  “Obama met with us, listened to our concerns, and we think he’ll do the best job on the issues that matter most to working families.”

A PDF of the full endorsement is available on the ILWU's 2008 Press page.

Local 34 Vice President Randy Reinhardt presents a check for $1000 to Franklin Torrence and Allen Bradley of UAW Local 3520 in Cleveland, North Carolina, at the Local 34 hall on Saturday, Feb. 23. The two brothers, plus three others, were fired by their company, Freightliner LLC, despite the fact that they were bargaining team members.

Both men are now traveling around the country to gather support for their fired co-workers and explain the importance of union organizing in the South.  Franklin and Allen note that many auto assembly and parts plants have been opening in the South in order to avoid the UAW and other unions.

They say that workers in the auto industry need to organize now more than ever. They were involved in the successful union organizing campaign at their plant, which was very difficult because North Carolina is a “right to work" state that bans union shops. 

United Autoworkers officials recently sent a letter confirming support for the "Freightliner FIve."

ILWU Local 10 members also donated $5000 to the Freightliner Five.  The contributions were announced at the Feb. 23 event where about 30 supporters from labor and community groups came to support the Freightliner Five's defense. 

When they get their jobs back, Franklin and Allen will be building the big road trucks that ply America’s highways - and continuing their union organizing work in the South.

For more information about the Freightliner 5, please visit  www.justice4five.com.