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= Resolution
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In Defense of Labor Rights/In Defense of Union Security – All out in
support of the ILWU
Whereas, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union
(ILWU) coast-wide longshore contract with the Pacific Maritime Authority
(PMA) expired on July 1, 2002 without any agreement, and negotiations
are continuing over matters of the greatest importance to the union
security of their members, and
Whereas, the union hiring hall won in the San Francisco General
Strike of 1934 is now being threatened by proposals made by the PMA, and
Whereas, the Maritime Security Act threatens the jobs of workers
who have criminal convictions many years old which are unrelated to
either their job or maritime security, and
Whereas, Homeland Security Director Tom Ridge, the newly
appointed official in charge of all secret police and investigative
forces of the federal government, recently called the ILWU President to
discourage a strike, framing it as a threat to national security, in an
act which was clearly intended to intimidate the union during
negotiations, and
Whereas, provisions of Taft-Hartley Act may be invoked by the
federal government, interfering with the legal and independent process
of collective bargaining, and
Whereas, these actions by the federal government and the PMA
endanger fundamental union rights by interfering with the collective
bargaining process, and constitute a threat to all union members by
portraying the defense of union security as a threat to national
security.
Therefore Be It Resolved: that GCIU: Web Press/Prepress
Workers’ Union 4N will
1. Publicize this information to
members in meetings, newsletters, and other communications.
2. Request adoption of this
resolution by the GCIU, central labor councils, and the California
Federation of Labor.
3. Send copies of this resolution to
elected representatives, Homeland Security Director Ridge, and President
Bush demanding HANDS OFF of basic union rights and NO government
intervention IN CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS.
4. Lend support to campaigns and
actions undertaken by the ILWU to negotiate a fair settlement with the
PMA and if necessary, exercise their legal right to strike.
Adopted unanimously at the July 21, 2002, GCIU: 4N General Membership
meeting
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