Post by dockworker on May 2, 2009 16:54:53 GMT -5
May Day Rally Canceled
Bill Mongelluzzo
May 1, 2009
The Journal of Commerce
Longshore workers heed arbitrator’s ruling, show up for work
A May Day work stoppage planned by International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 in the San Francisco Bay area did not materialize as longshoremen apparently heeded an arbitrator's ruling that the job action would violate the waterfront contract.
Employers reported that they filled all of the jobs that were available Friday at the Port of Oakland. "All of the clerk, longshore and foreman jobs were filled," said Jim McKenna, president of the Pacific Maritime Association, the employers' organization.
Local 10 earlier in the week voted to support a May Day 2009 march and rally in San Francisco. The ILWU local said the work stoppage was also being called to protest alleged repression of port workers and immigrants by the Department of Homeland Security.
Specifically, Local 10 stated that DHS national security rules implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential caused "hundreds of longshore workers to be unfairly denied work in the ports."
The ILWU local also spoke out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids at the homes and workplaces of immigrants "often resulting in prolonged detention under harsh conditions and the separation of families."
In past years, Local 10 job actions had caused some disruptions on May 1. This year, the PMA sought and received a ruling from the area arbitrator stating that a work stoppage would violate the waterfront contract, and Local 10 was instructed to relay that message to workers via a recording at the dispatch hall.
If workers had participated in a work stoppage, they would have lost their pay guarantee benefits for the entire week, McKenna said.
Also, work opportunities at all ports are down this year due to the global trade recession, so longshoremen appear motivated to accept whatever jobs are available.
Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com
Bill Mongelluzzo
May 1, 2009
The Journal of Commerce
Longshore workers heed arbitrator’s ruling, show up for work
A May Day work stoppage planned by International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 10 in the San Francisco Bay area did not materialize as longshoremen apparently heeded an arbitrator's ruling that the job action would violate the waterfront contract.
Employers reported that they filled all of the jobs that were available Friday at the Port of Oakland. "All of the clerk, longshore and foreman jobs were filled," said Jim McKenna, president of the Pacific Maritime Association, the employers' organization.
Local 10 earlier in the week voted to support a May Day 2009 march and rally in San Francisco. The ILWU local said the work stoppage was also being called to protest alleged repression of port workers and immigrants by the Department of Homeland Security.
Specifically, Local 10 stated that DHS national security rules implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential caused "hundreds of longshore workers to be unfairly denied work in the ports."
The ILWU local also spoke out against Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids at the homes and workplaces of immigrants "often resulting in prolonged detention under harsh conditions and the separation of families."
In past years, Local 10 job actions had caused some disruptions on May 1. This year, the PMA sought and received a ruling from the area arbitrator stating that a work stoppage would violate the waterfront contract, and Local 10 was instructed to relay that message to workers via a recording at the dispatch hall.
If workers had participated in a work stoppage, they would have lost their pay guarantee benefits for the entire week, McKenna said.
Also, work opportunities at all ports are down this year due to the global trade recession, so longshoremen appear motivated to accept whatever jobs are available.
Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com