The Life of the ILWU

Since the 1946 Strike, the operators use the Waterfront Employers Association as their negotiators for new contracts between the ILWU and employers. They also handled the labor relations and arbitrations of the contracts between the ILWU and the shipping operators and stevedore companies.

The 1946 Strike was not won be either party. The strike was to preserve the Union and let the employers know that the Union shall and will fight for our members. We were solid after 138 days on strike.

After the strike in 1946 ended, the Union with its leadership looked ahead for the negotiations in 1948. In the 1946 Strike, we were not prepared. The government used the Taft-Hartley Act and a democratic President to keep us on the bricks for almost five (5) months, but we came out of the 1948 Strike with an increase in wages, a pension plan, and a health & welfare plan.

The employers fired their managers in the past years because they couldn't produce. Then, the Union was too smart and prepared that time. The safety conditions were very bad. After the war, many of our brothers were killed on the job - 7 in one year, plus hundreds of injuries. So we came out of the 1948 strike more solid than we went in. The Waterfront Employers then changed their name to Pacific Maritime Association, and hired new management who worked closely with the ILWU.

Safety conditions improved and in 1955 and 1956, the PMA took us on again. The PMA then decided that they could bring ships in with the hatches uncovered, which made it unsafe for the longshore workers. Then the employers asked for help from the government and had the Bonner Congressional Committee meet in Los Angeles. Some of the Committee came down to the docks and looked over our operations. I appeared in Washington D.C. with a Sub-Committee of the Bonner Committee and they were satisfied with our contract and operations and the Committee took no action; its recommendation was to discuss a nationwide safety program. This safety program held their first meeting with Unions and employers in the USA. This meeting was held in May 1956 with President Eisenhower. This was the beginning of OSHA. I was present representing the ILWU.

The Union was preparing for negotiations in 1960, the M&M Agreement. The PMA shoved the M&M Agreement down our throats. We fell into a trap in Southern California. Matson Company had one of their ships load the first containers with a short gang. We objected and the port in Southern California was locked out by PMA. For over two weeks, we asked all the locals on the west coast not to work the ships from our port. They refused to back us up, so we had to comply with the new contract. We did not receive enough for what we lost in gang sizes and dock work.

We were told by Mr. St. Sure that we would be compensated in future contracts, which has yet to come true.

The PMA has had three new managers over the years. And, they did everything in their power to break the Union. When they failed, they hired a new manager.

Now you have as CEO for the PMA a guy named Miniace. He is known as a "Union Buster FINK." He will try and break this Union. But, we fought FINKS like this throughout the last 60 years and we beat 'em then and we'll beat 'em now - as long as we stick together we will win!!

Now is the time for the ship operators and countries under this contract to get rid of Miniace if they want peace on the waterfront.

Miniace has been courting Bush and the Republican Party for its support all year. He may be carrying Bush's golf clubs as a caddy, but Bush only has two more years, then what?

Now is the time for the companies to get rid of Miniace if they want peace on the waterfront. The ILWU will survive and move forward - as we have for the past 60 years.

Maybe this is the time to re-negotiate the 1960 M&M Agreement and get back what we gave up. The employers haven't paid their bill yet. They owe the ILWU. The PMA should stop the idea of Union Busting - the ship owners need the ILWU, not Miniace - stay together in solidarity and we will survive.

The ILWU was built as a fighting Union. When are we going to take a stand for a decent contract? The ILWU put these companies in business, and made them all multi-millionaires. We are entitled to a contract. We are entitled to respect. We have pride as Union members. It is about time to take a stand. The members are tired of the crap put out by Miniace. Who in the hell does he think he is? Nothing but a FINK - a strike is a no win for either side. But we don't have to take the insults against Bridges and former Officers. It is tune to make the employers live up to the M&M Contract. This includes container stations within a 50-mile radius of the harbors. If the companies make money, we want our share of it - not threats from "Hitler Jr." and "Mussolini Jr." Stand up for our rights and our Union.

Fraternally,

George Kuvakas, Sr

President of Southern California Pensioners 2002