The 23rd convention of the Inlandboatmen’s Union (IBU) met in Seattle on November 4-6 and committed to bold steps that will boost organizing and training. Elected delegates heard from a variety of speakers, participated in panel discussions, and joined debates, workshops and working groups that went late into the evenings.
Important decisions made at the convention included a unanimous endorsement of Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, plans to implement a union training trust and increased support for the union’s organizing efforts.
Passenger Industry and Towboat Caucuses
Before the Convention formally opened on November 3rd, the IBU held two caucuses—one for the passenger industry and another for the tow boat industry. The goal was to gather workers in those industries from every region and provide an opportunity to meet and discuss common issues facing their respective industries.
Both caucuses heard international guests from the Maritime Union of Australia. The MUA’s Assistant National Secretary-Treasurer Ian Bray spoke at the Towboat Caucus and Assistant Branch Secretary Paul Garret addressed the Passenger Industry Caucus.
The Passenger Industry Caucasus also heard a report from Tricia Schroeder, Executive Vice President at SEIU Local 925 on the ways in which right-wing organizations like the Freedom Foundation are using “right to work” laws in Washington State to harass and defund unions by tricking members with misleading mail campaigns into opting-out of paying union dues and agency fees.
President Coté’s address
In his convention address, IBU President Alan Coté outlined the challenges facing the union and all of organized labor – noting unions are under threat from subcontracting, privatization, automation, coordinated legal and legislative attacks on the rights of workers to collectively organize and bargain. Coté said that employers strategically use intimidation, threats and other unfair labor practices to subvert the few rights that workers currently have under the law. Maritime unions are under threat from attempts to undermine cabotage laws that protect the domestic shipping industry while public sector workers are threatened by “right-to-work” laws.
“If you are comfortable right now, and feel that everything is going well, and that your contracts are all in order, I suggest that you are asleep at the wheel,” Coté said. “I believe we’re at war. There is a global war against labor.”
Despite these threats, Coté outlined a path forward for the IBU that included forging new strategic allies with other maritime unions in the United States and strengthening existing relationships internationally with like-minded unions like the Maritime Union of Australia. Coté also stressed the need for strategic organizing campaigns in key sectors and regions such as what the fuel dock workers are doing in Dutch Harbor Alaska and urged delegates to finally enact a training program.
“If unions don’t control labor through their own training programs, we are at the mercy of every employer. Why should you have to go to your employer and beg him for training?” Coté said.
Focus on organizing
ILWU International Vice President Ray Familathe, who oversees the ILWU Organizing Department, addressed the convention on the first day. He outlined the legislative attacks on the ILWU Longshore Division that, if enacted, would restrict the rights of longshore workers to take lawful labor actions to protect their wages and conditions.
He said that this was a part of an attack against maritime workers and dock workers across the globe. “There’s a reason they are coming after us, and that is because we are highly unionized.” Familathe said.
“That is why we are in organizations like the International Transport Workers Federation and the International Dockers Council, and why it is so important to have friends like the MUA.” Familathe also highlighted the organizing efforts in Dutch Harbor Alaska and acknowledged the hard work of ILWU organizers Adam Dalton and Jon Brier who were in attendance.
After his speech, Familathe participated in a panel discussion on organizing with organizer Adam Daltonand Monty Beard, a worker from the Catalina Express organizing drive in San Pedro. The panel discussed the organizing efforts in Dutch Harbor which is now focused on winning a new contract. They also covered the challenges encountered in last Spring’s organizing drive at Catalina Express that fell a few votes short of victory.
The panel acknowledge the many obstacles involved in any organizing campaign that include illegal employer harassment, intimidation of workers and high priced union-busting consultants, but agreed that organizing needs to continue and be an important focus of the union.
Tongue Point Seamanship Program
The convention heard a presentation about the Seamanship Program at Tongue Point in Astoria, OR. Seamanship Program Director Len Tumbarello and student Daniel Myking gave an overview of their program which is funded by Job Corps, a federal training program run by the Department of Labor that helps young people ages 16 through 24. The training and education is provided at no cost to the students who live on campus during their training. Students are placed in internships and receive job placement assistance.
Applicants from all over the United States attend the Seamanship program which enrolls 120 students. Secretary-Treasurer Terri Mast noted that IBU convention delegate Meagan Nye had graduated from the Tongue Point program and was recognized by delegates.
Political action
ILWU International Secretary Treasurer Willie Adams spoke about the need to be actively engaged in politics at every level to protect the interests of ILWU members.
“We have to be smart about who give money to,” Adams said. “If a politician comes around asking for a donation from our Political Action Fund and they haven’t supported the ILWU or the interests of workers, we don’t give them any money. It’s that simple.”
After Adams spoke, there was a panel discussion on political action at the federal, state and local levels that included Adams, Southern California Regional Director John Skow, and Puget Sound Regional Director Peter Hart.
John Skow discussed the “Safe Manning Act,” legislation that the Southern California IBU is seeking to introduce in the California legislature. The goal is to ensure proper staffing on tugboats in the state’s harbors.
Skow said the legislation is currently on hold while they document the safety hazards on under-staffed tugs. Adams talked about the legislative attacks on the Jones Act, a federal law passed in 1920 which protects the domestic shipping industry. In his role as a San Francisco Port Commissioner, Adams said he has been asked if he would support changes to the Jones Act, based on claims that it might bring more cruise ships to San Francisco. “I’m not in favor of touching the Jones Act at all,” Adams said. “Leave it alone.”
Hart underscored the need for political engagement. “You do politics or politics does you,” he warned. He added that the IBU does not have a large Political Action Fund. “But what we do have is a lot of members who can add this stuff up. We’ve got to educate and engage members about this anti-worker legislation and the politicians who support it.”
The struggle down under MUA Assistant National Secretary-Treasurer Ian Bray addressed the convention on the second day to provide delegates with an international perspective about recent attacks on workers and labor organizations. He discussed recent changes in labor laws made by Australia’s right-wing government that have restricted rights of Australian union members to engage in labor actions. Other changes include weakened health and safety regulations needed to protect workers. Finally, Bray noted recent changes to visa laws have made it easier for employers to import low-wage workers into Australia – eroding pay and working conditions that the MUA fought for generations to establish.
“A boss who is only concerned with unfettered productivity doesn’t care about your safety and he doesn’t care if you make it home to your family at the end of your shift,” Bray said.
Young workers panel
At the end of the second morning’s plenary session, the convention heard from a panel of young workers who discussed the challenges with integrating young and new members into the union. Meagan Nye, Adam Smith and Samantha Levens participated on the panel.
The IBU had sent each of these workers to represent the union at various events in order to involve and train a new generation of rank and file leaders. Nye participated in the ILWU Young Workers Conference in Canada, Smith attended the International Transport Worker’s Federation Summer School and Levens represented the IBU at a recent MUA convention. During the panel, they provided a report-back on their experiences. Levens said that it was important to engage new members as soon as they come into the union and have ways they can actively participate in organizing and other activities.
“It’s great to talk about young workers in the union but we need to make sure we have structures in place to actively engage young workers,” Levens said. She recalled how she was asked to assist in the organizing drive at Hornblower Cruises when she first became an IBU member and how important that experience was in integrating her into the union. “I think I spent more time on the picket line in my first few months as an IBU member then I did working on ferries.”
Resolutions adopted
Delegates discussed dozens of proposed resolutions which were debated, amended and voted by the body. Key resolutions adopted by the 23rd IBU Convention delegates include:
- Unanimous endorsement of PresidentialCandidate Bernie Sanders;
- Support of continued funding of the Alaska Marine Highway;
- Support for the development of the Alaska Liquefied Natural Gas Project;
- Support for a fair contract for Sakuma Brothers Farms workers;
- Continued support for the Southern Alaska communities of Sitka, Hoonah, Haines, and Skagway;
- The development of a Training Trust Fund;
- Opposition to the Trans Pacific Partnership;
- Support for Washington State Ferries Concession Members;
- Support for a Southern California Region job apprenticeship program;
- Support for the Delta Western Workers in Dutch Harbor, Alaska;
- Commitment to fight against attacks on public sector unions;
- Commitment to create a leadership and mentoring program for rank-and- file members;
The financial package was also approved by the delegates which will include a dues increase that will go to IBU members for a final vote.
“We made some important decisions that will help this union move forward in an economic and political Secretary Treasurer Mast. “It’s important that we respond when we are attacked but also take the steps necessary to plan and strengthen this union for future generations.”