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International
Dockworkers Council
I had the opportunity to represent the Seattle Pension Club, as an observer
to the IDC, held in Long Beach, the early part of August. The Washington area
pensioners were represented by PCPA president, Rich Austin, myself and the
Tacoma club president, Ken Rohar. Locals 19 and 52 each sent two observers and
local 98 sent one.
The IDC was established as a
result of the lock out of the Liverpool dockers, and their ultimate defeat. The
council is made up of dockworkers from the south of Europe, South and Central
America as well as the east and west coasts of North America. The ILWU is the
only member that also belongs to the ITF. The ILA has not joined as a unit, but
has several locals that belong.
The out going, (founding,) director is from Barcelona, Spain. Who is being
replaced by another member of
his (Barcelona,) local, a dynamic young man who has some great ideas on how
to progress. The two biggest problems he will have is to get the member unions,
(those that can,) to pay there dues and then to establish a working relationship
with the marine division of the ITF. I wish him luck.
It was interesting to see that all the ports from around the world, were
having some of the same problems we have, with some of the same
Employers.
The gathering was hosted by the Southern California locals of the
ILWU, everyone was well taken care of.
I would like to thank the ILWU International, the PCPA and the Seattle Pension
Club for this opportunity.
Fraternally,
Ian Kennedy
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