Spinosa Puts Union Spin On Future Of
Waterfront
By George
Cunningham
Article reprinted courtesy of “The
Cunningham Report”
Jan 15, 2001
ILWU
International President James Spinosa said Friday that his union has no problems
with change, but that it expects to be included in whatever changes are made. So
far, he says, all the Pacific Maritime Association has offered is some kind of
“buyout agreement” that would give union work to outsiders. Spinosa said
looking at the way technology is going to change the waterfront and negotiating
a new contract are two different things and should be divided one from another.
PMA President Joe Miniace has called for management and union to begin early
negotiations this year on a new contract, but Spinosa, talking to reporters
after his speech, said the union is not interested. “The worst thing we could
do is enter into negotiations when we are not ready. The next year should be
spent talking to all the parties and finding out where the industry is
going," he said. (1/15/01)
Miniace Says He’s Disappointed In
Spinosa’s Stand
Joe
Miniace, contacted in San Francisco following Spinosa’s appearance, said he
was disappointed to hear that Spinosa was rejecting the idea of early
negotiations. He also said the idea of putting technology issues and the
contract on two separate tracks doesn’t make sense. “When you start talking
about jobs and the changing of jobs, and what each job is value-wise, where
people are going to be going - that in fact is the contract. To say let’s talk
about technology, but not really the contract, is not logical.” Miniace said
if union and management really want to address the technology issues, they would
have to negotiate early since there is not enough time during the traditional
negotiating period to cover the issues thoroughly. The PMA’s recommendations
for a new agreement on technology were presented to the union on Dec. 19.
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