Posted:
July 29, 2008
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union today clinched its six-year contract agreement in principle with employers for the more than 25,000 longshore workers at 29 U.S. West Coast ports at one of the toughest times in the USA and global economies.
ITF Dockworkers Chairman and MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin was contacted by the ILWU President Bob McEllrath today to say the union had reached a tentative agreement between the negotiating groups.
"The resolution at the negotiating table is a great break through and an historic moment," said Paddy Crumlin. "It is in particular a great credit to the ILWU negotiating team led for the first time by big Bob McEllrath. I have extended the congratulations to Bob and his team on behalf of the Dockworkers' Section of the ITF in general and the MUA in particular. It is an important development for all dockworkers, maritime workers, and transport workers in general."
The contract expired on July 1 and was not extended by the union. It was the end of the five-year contract that came out of the controversial and disruptive lock out by employers in 2002.
In a joint press release issued by the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association, the parties announced that, after a marathon weekend bargaining session, they had reached a preliminary agreement on terms for a new six-year contract. The leaders shook hands in San Francisco over the proposed agreement today.
The agreement is subject to ratification by the ILWU and PMA membership. Meanwhile ILWU and PMA have agreed to extend the previous agreement and resume normal port operations.
Details of the agreement will not be released until the ILWU and PMA leadership teams have communicated with their respective membership. However ILWU President Bob McEllrath and PMA President Jim McKenna said it meets the needs of both workers and the industry. It allows West Coast ports to be competitive and provides the good jobs that workers and communities need.
"The agreement in principle is a great reflection on the maturity and commitment of the parties to negotiate," said Paddy Crumlin. "It comes at a time of serious economic downturn in the U.S. resulting in difficult trade conditions."
Paddy Crumlin said the ITF strongly supported the ILWU in what was seen to be difficult negotiations considering the climate of the last negotiations and the current economic political circumstances in the U.S. The recent ITF Fair Practices Committee in Stockholm received reports from Secretary of the Dockers Frank Leys along with brother Crumlin and Willie Adams, secretary-treasurer of the ILWU, and Ray Familathe, its international officer.
The committee resolved to provide full support and solidarity to the ILWU and urged the employers to negotiate in good faith.
"This has clearly happened, and will be a development welcomed by all international dockers and seafarers," Paddy Crumlin said.
"The negotiations have been underway for a number of months and have been extremely intensive and focused. The expiry of the agreement created great tension both in the U.S. and in the international dockworkers industry."
President Bob McEllrath led a large delegation representing many of the members of the ILWU negotiating team to the MUA National Conference held in Sydney in April this year.
The many international dockworkers' and seafarers' delegates joined together with MUA members in strong resolutions outlining their determination to go the distance with the ILWU and comparisons were made with the longstanding ILWU international support for all dockworkers, seafarers and international labor issues.
"They are a wonderful union committed not only to their own members, but to the rights and needs of international workers as well," said Paddy Crumlin. "International dockers joined together with many other international workers in welcoming the prospect of a new contract and congratulating Big Bob, the negotiating group and all ILWU members, pensioners, officers and staff on this achievement.
"This outcome puts the stevedoring industry in the U.S. and international dock workers industry in good shape in order to meet demands in these critical global conditions," he said.
Big win for ILWU dockworkers
Agreement in principle reached for family wage, job safety, health care, pensions and green ports
The following report was published today by the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA):The International Longshore and Warehouse Union today clinched its six-year contract agreement in principle with employers for the more than 25,000 longshore workers at 29 U.S. West Coast ports at one of the toughest times in the USA and global economies.
ITF Dockworkers Chairman and MUA National Secretary Paddy Crumlin was contacted by the ILWU President Bob McEllrath today to say the union had reached a tentative agreement between the negotiating groups.
"The resolution at the negotiating table is a great break through and an historic moment," said Paddy Crumlin. "It is in particular a great credit to the ILWU negotiating team led for the first time by big Bob McEllrath. I have extended the congratulations to Bob and his team on behalf of the Dockworkers' Section of the ITF in general and the MUA in particular. It is an important development for all dockworkers, maritime workers, and transport workers in general."
The contract expired on July 1 and was not extended by the union. It was the end of the five-year contract that came out of the controversial and disruptive lock out by employers in 2002.
In a joint press release issued by the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association, the parties announced that, after a marathon weekend bargaining session, they had reached a preliminary agreement on terms for a new six-year contract. The leaders shook hands in San Francisco over the proposed agreement today.
The agreement is subject to ratification by the ILWU and PMA membership. Meanwhile ILWU and PMA have agreed to extend the previous agreement and resume normal port operations.
Details of the agreement will not be released until the ILWU and PMA leadership teams have communicated with their respective membership. However ILWU President Bob McEllrath and PMA President Jim McKenna said it meets the needs of both workers and the industry. It allows West Coast ports to be competitive and provides the good jobs that workers and communities need.
"The agreement in principle is a great reflection on the maturity and commitment of the parties to negotiate," said Paddy Crumlin. "It comes at a time of serious economic downturn in the U.S. resulting in difficult trade conditions."
Paddy Crumlin said the ITF strongly supported the ILWU in what was seen to be difficult negotiations considering the climate of the last negotiations and the current economic political circumstances in the U.S. The recent ITF Fair Practices Committee in Stockholm received reports from Secretary of the Dockers Frank Leys along with brother Crumlin and Willie Adams, secretary-treasurer of the ILWU, and Ray Familathe, its international officer.
The committee resolved to provide full support and solidarity to the ILWU and urged the employers to negotiate in good faith.
"This has clearly happened, and will be a development welcomed by all international dockers and seafarers," Paddy Crumlin said.
"The negotiations have been underway for a number of months and have been extremely intensive and focused. The expiry of the agreement created great tension both in the U.S. and in the international dockworkers industry."
President Bob McEllrath led a large delegation representing many of the members of the ILWU negotiating team to the MUA National Conference held in Sydney in April this year.
The many international dockworkers' and seafarers' delegates joined together with MUA members in strong resolutions outlining their determination to go the distance with the ILWU and comparisons were made with the longstanding ILWU international support for all dockworkers, seafarers and international labor issues.
"They are a wonderful union committed not only to their own members, but to the rights and needs of international workers as well," said Paddy Crumlin. "International dockers joined together with many other international workers in welcoming the prospect of a new contract and congratulating Big Bob, the negotiating group and all ILWU members, pensioners, officers and staff on this achievement.
"This outcome puts the stevedoring industry in the U.S. and international dock workers industry in good shape in order to meet demands in these critical global conditions," he said.