Mr. Miniace's Anti-union Agenda
Mr. Miniace (Miniahchee), President and CEO of the
Pacific Maritime Association, our boss, has declared open warfare on the
ILWU. He is quoted in the last Dispatcher as saying that if the ILWU does
not accept his proposals for increasing productivity in the coming
negotiations, he will lock waterfront workers out. He will shut down the
waterfront. In other words he no longer recognizes our union, the legally
recognized collective bargaining unit of longshore, warehouse workers and
foremen. We accept his dictatorial provisions for the coming contract or
we are unemployed.
Such arrogance is unacceptable. It puts the gun to
our head. As ILWU President Spinosa said, Miniace is not putting a
bargaining proposal on the table, he is putting a gun on the table. If Mr.
Miniace thinks threats are going to scare the union and waterfront
workers, he has another thought coming. Such threats are nothing new to
us. We've handled worse before during and since 1934 and we can handle
this one.
In fact Miniace is in a very weak position.
Productivity under the present M&M program is way beyond previous
levels. He wants to cut a few clerking jobs. In the first place he is off
base because his proposal violates the "no layoffs" clause in
the M&M agreement. In the second place he threatens a jurisdiction
recognized under established ILWU rules. If he gets away with this scheme
to gut clerk jurisdiction, it would become a precedent to threaten
jurisdiction in all our work categories. The very existence of our union
is threatened. It seems as If Miniace would prefer a waterfront totally
free of workers. If he does not back off his ant-union agenda, he better
start looking for another job.
Another anti-union proposal threatened by Miniace is
to do away with local arbitrators, one for each ILWU division. Local
arbitrators were established to facilitate unresolved issues by local
joint labor relations committees. This was to ensure speedy resolution of
such disputes – work would proceed with minimum delay. The agreement
also provided that work should continue as before the dispute until the
local labor relations committee ruled. If there was appeal from that
ruling, the matter is referred to the local arbitrator ruled. The union or
employer has the right to appeal the local ruling to the Coast Labor
Relations Committee or arbitrator.
The proposal to remove the local arbitrators may seem
a small matter. But the hook in Miniace's move is that future
disagreements would have to be settled at the coast level since local
arbitrators are absent. The employers main concern is that the present
arbitration system gives the union a shot at settling disputes fairly.
They want that removed to the Coast level, away from local influence by
the union, where their influence can mean more favorable rulings for
employers. Simply put, it takes power from the union.
Also, work continues under the disputed conditions.
That would mean work would continue for a lengthy time under onerous
conditions while being distantly arbitrated at Coast headquarters. Such
delay could last for days, weeks or months while the Coast is processing
such disputes up and down the entire coast and elsewhere. Thus you see the
employer advantage - work continuing under disputed conditions for long
periods of time under onerous or even illegal conditions to the advantage
of the employer. It also means Miniace is ready to weaken the union to the
full extent he can get away with.
Miniace should not forget that we are well armed if
he wants to use the gun. The U.S. labor movement is looking for an
opportunity to strengthen its ranks. - world labor will welcome a chance
to rally around our cause if it comes to a lock out against the ILWU. Mr.
Miniace's threat to turn back the clock on labor relations is part of a
world globalization program to lower global wages, working conditions and
living standards, Apparently the PMA and Mr. Miniace have decided to lead
off on that campaign. If they can seriously weaken or destroy the ILWU
they will score a significant victory against unionism everywhere.
But they can also suffer a significant defeat. The
ILWU is not alone. We have many allies such as the national AFL-CIO,
Teamsters union, East Coast International Longshore Association, many
unions overseas such as Japan, Australia, France, Italy, South Korea, and
others. These unions are itching to strike a blow against U.S. employer
arrogance. They, and we, believe, in the words of John Sweeney, President
of the AFL-CIO that "A better world is possible.
We also have strong supporters outside of labor. We
have connections with U.S. anti-globalization forces, which are
considerable. We have such groups as Jobs With Justice, Senior and retiree
groups such as the Alliance of Retired Americans, Unemployed groups who
have a score to settle, student groups on many campuses, connections with
environmental movements, and others. And certainly not least, the vast and
increasingly powerful human rights movement. They and we see that union
rights are human rights.
So Mr. Miniace, bring on your guns, but you better
cover your rear – a three letter word!
In response to the above, we have received a
communication from the Pacific Coast Pensioners Association as follows:
"On January 17, 2002 the mid-year meeting of the ILWU Pacific Coast
Pensioners Association Executive Board passed the following motion:
"All U.S. members of PCPA Executive Board begin donating $50 per
month, beginning February, in case of work interruption in the upcoming
negotiations between the ILWU and PMA. This money be put in a special fund
to aid the Longshore division in case of work disruption and will continue
until a contract agreement is reached" The motion passed unanimously.
Further, the Executive Board, during discussion on
the motion, agreed to notify the various PCPA pension clubs Groups to get
them to contact all pensioners to donate at least $50", or at least
as much as you can afford.. . . "Should a contract settlement be
reached without any problems, your money will be returned."
So, sisters and brothers, rally to the cause. The
money you can give now may save us money in the future! Our union and our
pension future is at stake!
NOTE: The recent Caucus passed a motion assessing
each working ILWU member $100.00 per month for the same reason. |
