ILA Authorizes Strike at Year-End

[yarddog]

ILA Authorizes Strike at Year-End

Joseph Bonney, Senior Editor
Dec 10, 2012
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International Longshoremen’s Association President Harold Daggett won authorization from ILA delegates to call a strike if a bargaining impasse isn’t settled before the union’s contract expires Dec. 29.

The vote by the ILA’s 200-member wage scale committee moves East and Gulf coast ports closer to their first coastwide strike in 35 years.

Daggett asked the ILA’s 200-member wage scale committee for strike authorization after he delivered a speech accusing United States Maritime Alliance of trying to reverse gains the ILA has made in previous contracts.

The roll call vote in favor of the strike authorization was unanimous, ILA spokesman James McNamara said.

Complete Coverage of ILA-USMX Negotiations

The vote preceded a session today in which employer representatives presented USMX’s proposals to wage scale committee members meeting in Delray Beach, Fla.

Daggett’s speech to ILA delegates reportedly emphasized USMX’s proposal to cap container royalty payments to workers. USMX has proposed capping payments at current levels, which averaged $15,500 per eligible worker last year, and using the excess to fund other ILA benefits.

An ILA strike would affect container and roll-on, roll-off cargo covered by the ILA-USMX coastwide master contract. The ILA would continue to work breakbulk cargo and cruise lines that employ ILA labor but are not covered by the master contract, McNamara said. Perishables and military cargo also would be exempt, he said.

In addition to issues in the coastwide master contract, this year’s negotiations over supplementary local contracts have been contentious, especially in the Port of New York and New Jersey, where the New York Shipping Association is seeking changes in work rules, including requirements for extensive relief staffin

[Ga Trucker]

The Avg compensation to an ILA member is $124,138 and they want to strike when most of us are scrapping by. Next they will be asking us to support their strike while we sit at home and go broke. I don't know when the last time was that one of them made any effort inside the Port to do anything to make my life easier. They are on break or going to lunch, it takes hours to get out of their because they won't make any effort for us. I say if they strike the whole d**n lot should be replaced with non-union employees and then maybe these ungratefuls will realize how good they have it.

[wheresthemoney]

;D ;D ;D i will take a month vacation if they do. the money they make just goes to show that the bastards who handle this freight have the money to pay to move this garbage they are sh^t*ng the truckers out of. i hope the longshoremen bust their a$$ even if it don't help me at least the 1% get a taste of having it shoved up their corporate a$$.

[Ga Trucker]

Thats part of the problem one of the reasons they are so tight on their rates is because of the LIA rates. They don't give a s#*t about us and now they want a bigger piece of the pie. So you can believe our rates will drop if those jerks go on strike it's not about anyone but them. And they have already begun a slow down in the port now and tell me everyday that they can't wait to go on strike. So keep blaming the freight co and let the ILA off the hook. You are part of the problem.

[hester]

hey driver-- you really believe the shippers or trucking companies would give us more money if ila worked for cheap wages? trucking rates will go up to clear the backlog after a strike if those union thugs go out. at least the trucking companies will get their share. will any of that get passed down? no not a dime unless drivers demand it. the real problem here is there are to many truckers willing to work for nothing. the trucking companies know most here will take loads no matter how cheap. look around you. how many drivers do you see making a decent living moving containers? maybe one out of one thousand if that. now look at what most these agents make who own nothing but a computer. i ask you who is f#cking who at this port?

[Ga Trucker]

I understand exactly what you say and really can't argue that point. I agree we need to get together on things to make it better. But if the first slice of the pie is that big it doesn't leave much for eveyone else. All I'm trying to say is we need to let everyone know we don't intend to be their whipping post anymore and I think part of the problem is the ILA. If there is only 100.00 (example and the ILA get half and the trucking CO want 2/3 of whats left there's not much for us. That's all I am saying so lets not be so quick to say good for the ILA whens the last time you made 124,000, I don't want them to work for cheap, but how much more do they need. They already are one of the issues we have everyday getting in and out of the port. I don't understand why that is so hard to see. These guys think we are a dime a dozen just like the Co do, and they have as great an effect on your time as anyone.

[rjones56]

If the ILA strikes I will turn around at the gate and go home.Might see if I could at least take my loaded box in but I d**n well won`t bring anything out.I don`t see how I can do anything but support them.Most of the griping I hear about ILA pay comes from people who are mad at themselves for working for less than they,and their work,are worth.
This strike is an opportunity for OUR PART of the trucking industry.It is well past time for ALL of us to unite as well.We (ALL OF US) could benefit by banding together.Truckers have lots of answers but most of us don`t have the time,or the ambition to accomplish much in the way of change.We tend to lose sight of the "Big Picture" which is unity,and will never be treated fairly or equitably like our ILA peers as long as we all continue to operate solely as individuals competing witheach other.
My wages have not risen in proportion with the costs since I started driving shortly after deregulation.The gap appears to be growing wider all the time.Every year,the apathy grows among my fellow drivers,and every year we are losing another part of a very meager profit.Our compensation(driver,owner or company) has not risen anywhere near as fast as our expenses have.We are ALL working for less than we need to be profitable.Who is controlling the purse strings???The way I see it we`re fighting the same battle the ILA is fighting for its members,or we should be.I encourage all of you to be more respectful of yourself and each other.We can make a change.I need to work,I don`t need to get any poorer doing it.
I pledge to support this strike in Norfolk VA.

[jtd]

i agree. i support the port workers here in savannah even though it has no bearing on the freight rate that i'm paid by the companies to run my truck. i'm not in love with them but i have respect for their union unity when it's time to cut through the b#lls#it. what they receive in a new contract won't make anymore money nor will it reduce the amount i'm paid now when they return to work that is if they walk off the job. no matter if these port workers make $4.00bucks per hr or $50.00 bucks per hr the local trucking companies will still pay the same rate to truckers at this port. doesn't make any difference if the trucking companies are paid $3.00,$6.00,$9.00 per mile. if they can get thirty trucking dummies to haul for $1.23 per mile that figure will continue to be the going rate. you can't change working stupid outside the port gate by getting some others to work stupid inside the port gate. we do need unity among trucker like the port workers but that remains to be seen at this point. drivers were united together at one time in savannah. remember? it almost worked in the past but sadly there are still people those around here who think change comes in a matter of a few days with little effort. very few are willing to sacrifice any at all for the long haul or even for a short haul. many of my fellow truckers just sit on the side and wait for someone else to fight their battle. i know. i have watched certain guys who still appear on this forum from time to time who are the very ones over the years who have greatly sacrificed for others without even so much as a thank you. i respect that but sadly most of them have left us behind now. who can blame them. why would anyone in their right mind continue to stand up for those of us are either too weak to defend themselves or too lazy to bother. it's that everyone for them self attitude the container companies love. all i hear anymore down at the piers is a massive amount of driver b^tc#ing but a very small handful are willing to do anything about the current situation. i have maybe a couple more years of running this garbage to put up with. my truck is paid for. i have a steady run that pays a little more than the bills. why should i be willing to jeopardize my gateway out of here to repeat the same history again. if we had stood together in the first place twenty years ago everyone of us remaining now would be retiring with a decent savings account but that's not what's happening fellows. even stevie wonder can clearly see at this port the players who have the funds stuffed in their bank accounts view the world through the window of an office not out the windshield of a truck! change cost guys. i see no one willing today to fill the shoes of those gone who tried to do the right thing for all of us. they didn't fail , we failed them. think about it.

[Sundown]

I am saving every dime I can before Dec 29th. This is one trucker who won't be going on the port for any reason if the union strikes. Not only am I going to avoid any hassle at the port gate but how about the increased chance of an accident out there with temporary inexperienced idiots operating equipment? No thanks. I'll just take a little extended Christmas New-Year break. A strike won't last long anyway I'm sure. GOD the backups will be unbelievable when it's all over but someone will be paying big bucks to get their cans out of there first. Happens every time except this will be much larger then a local boycott. The companies I will be moving boxes for will be ready to let's make deal. There will be several willing to pass the bucks down in order to coral more truckers. Watch and see. We might as well take full advantage of everything we can out of this cluster ^%$. Why not? They certainly don't have a problem taking advantage of us so I say go for it.

[shortcircut]

I say let the sorry bastards strike . Va. is a right to work state anyway. Let the ILA screw themselves right out of the Va. Ports, then maybe VIT can hire some people who want to work

[jones]

that's not going to happen. ila isn't going anywhere except outside the gate for a week or two. right to work states are right for the employer to f^%k over every worker in virginia including truckers. look around how much better trucking is in tidewater because of va's right to work. it's especially working out great for owner*operators who enjoy working for nothing. you cant organize or strike or raise rates because the companies can replace your a## in 30 seconds without any reason what so ever. we have no support and most drivers will cut your balls first chance they get to move your load cheaper. the ila will strike and there will be plenty of idiot container truckers waiting in longer lines while port supervisors try load them taking all d**n day for the same cheap a## rates they haul for now. my truck will be parked at the house and i will go fishing in the york river for a week or so.

[OOmad]

Why would anyone who is actually working for a living want to work for LESS money than his/her predecessor??Have you fallen and bumped your head?? Im going to sit home in VA in support of this strike.Maybe it`ll rub off on some of OUR peers and then maybe we can start getting a reasonable pay for ourselves.Certainly wont be worth my time coming to any VIT port until this is settled.

[baywatch]

i don't think the ila is going to screw them self out of a job. i also dont think this virginia right to work bull%h*t protects anyone but the fat cat employers right to p^ss on all of us. if you dont believe that just look around at all the independent truckers working the ports & the shape most are in because every cheap bastard has the right to cut the rates. i say either we find a way to unionize the entire owner-operator fleet or bring back the interstate commerce commission and limit entry into who can be a d**n motor carrier. as it stands now for a couple hundred bucks any dumb@$$ can fill out the forms and become a trucking company while lowering the port trucking rates daily. thats some right we have there for sure!

[canhauler]

The ILA will still be there when we start hauling again. I'm sure with a better contract in hand unlike the broken promises and bull$#^t we have to show from the motor carriers. I'm glad for them but unhappy we can't seem to organize a handful of interested truckers out of thousands who would rather complain but continue working for minimum wage so a few of these trucking agents can live a lavish life.

[confusedtrucker]

I say let them resolve the strike and when the ILA comes back, then drivers refuse to move containers. maybe then the entire trucking industry will understand how fed up the drivers are with being underpaid and over worked

[jerry]

it's not going to happen. some of these drivers will be strike breakers with the ila outside the gates. these are same dummie morons who will run around other drivers if truckers would shutdown. same thing each time. we will see how many stupid drivers are trying to get into the port on monday. everyone will know bt now the strike will happen this weekend so no excuse to be dumb to the facts. u have a bunch out here who are scared of the trucking company managers . scared of what i would like to know. u can get another one of these lease truck jobs any day of the week. bottom line is some company always needs trucks.i won't move any boxes until the dockers return to work.i hope customers are not counting on me being their f^%&ng freight rat.