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Out Sourcing Hits Longshore
by Del Castle
Many of us have long thought that our jobs were
exempt from outsourcing. Docks are not subject to moving around the globe.
( But Del
urges us to consider an article from the Feb. issue of MONTHLY
REVIEW which
may lead us to reconsider. The article speaks of a contemplated scheme to
create two vast transport corridors originating in Laredo, one
of them reaching up to Minneapolis, the other further east in the direction of
Indianapolis,
To serve
these corridors, in addition to the container terminal at Lazaro
Cardenas, terminal facilities are being expanded in Ensenada and Manzanillo on
the Pacific
Coast, and Vera Cruz and Altamira on the Gulf. Also there is
a multibillion dollar effort at Punta Colonet to divert the flow of imports from
LA and Long Beach through Baja. Crane operating and other longshore jobs could be outsourced
to these places. Distribution centers near US ports could be
diverted to Mexico as well.
So what does all this mean to the port of Seattle? Obviously
- less jobs, not right away but bound to have the same effect as M&M of the
70’s.
What can we do? First we must establish
solidarity between Mexican and US waterfront workers including teamsters with
the perspective of having Mexican waterfront workers join the ILWU. If
successful we could put a spoke in the globalization scheme to cut wages, hours,
safety, pensions, and health and welfare on the US west coast waterfront. This
is an all-out threat. It is well-planned, backed by the corporate bosses,
and could set US labor back to what it was in 1934.
So let's get
serious
and do whatever it takes to save and revitalize
organized labor.
The job you save may be
your own.
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