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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 |
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