Unique Interview with ILWU Member Throughout Contract Negotiations
In the present day’s weblog is a particular, unique interview with ILWU member David A. Griffen.
The ILWU contract negotiations drag on whereas shippers, companies, and worldwide delivery business professionals can simply watch and wait, questioning what’s taking place.
Mr. Griffen has graciously agreed to share the attitude of the ILWU member on the talks and state of affairs on the ports.
Highlights from the interview embrace expectations of quickly decision and Mr. Griffen’s response as to whether or not the ILWU is orchestrating slowdowns.
The under image is a letter Mr. Griffen wrote to PMA President and CEO James McKenna which is straight away adopted by the interview:
Q: How lengthy have you ever been an ILWU Native 54 member?
A: On and off since 1978, however full time final 10 years (third technology).
Q: What’s your place?
A: Longshoreman and our Corridor’s PAC Chairman, at the moment operating for LRC.
Q: Your letter says you have been in favor of an extension. Did this appear to be true for a majority of union members you’re employed with?
Sure. Initially most appeared to favor a extension, however now we really feel PMA would by no means settle with an extension in place.
Q: Why, in your opinion, has no extension been granted?
A: Prior to now extensions have been granted when issues have been all however rapped up, as in 2008. Simply not the case this time.
Q: What are the most important issues of the union members at West Coast ports?
A: Ensuring that we’re a part of the brand new methods, mechanization, and that we’re educated to do the brand new jobs, and never have them farmed out of our union and even state.
Q: Are slowdowns being orchestrated or utilized by the ILWU?
Slowdowns usually are not being orchestrated: everybody at my native (54) has been working flat out, however with out new members it has turn out to be relentless. As for myself, as I write to you I’m bruised, battered, sore, and exhausted. However nonetheless, I really feel very blessed to be working as a longshoreman. I additionally work with SF/Oakland members (native 10) regularly, and so they have instructed me that they don’t seem to be slowing down.
Q: What would you want shippers and the general public to learn about ILWU union members?
A: That we do NOT make wherever close to what PMA has put out. It takes a mean of seven years (about 30% of labor pressure) to realize membership. In these 7 years, longshoreman are very fortunate to make 30K a yr (who present as much as the corridor twice a day, 7 days every week). Most full time members earn about 60K to 90K; which is nice, however PMA is utilizing regular staff (members that don’t report back to the Corridor, about 5% of staff, dep on native) and supplying you with their common: The work could be very quick paced and harmful and we do the most effective we are able to, day and evening, rain, sleet or snow. Security is sort of at all times sacrificed for manufacturing. Many people are 2nd, third, 4th, and fifth technology longshoremen, so we see this not as only a nice job, however as a legacy price combating and dying for.
Longshoremen have a visceral hatred of strikes, lockouts, and nonproductive environments. Throughout the 1971/72 strike: On Sunday my mother would make us ham and lima beans; Monday, leftover ham and lima beans; Tuesday, Bits of ham on lima beans: Wednesday, she would boil the ham bone and pore the juice on the lima beans; Thursday, simply lima beans; Friday, fish (Catholic); Repeat. So, we like to work or really feel we should, plenty of guys work 7 or 10 shifts every week, simply to die a yr or two after retiring.
Q: What are the most important security issues for longshoremen on the docks?
A: Every terminal and port has completely different questions of safety. For instance, the longshoreman who misplaced her legs (I had labored together with her) in Oakland, the terminal operator refused to vary the configuration of site visitors circulate as we had requested till after she misplaced her legs. We work in danger regularly, so once we really do elevate a priority, it needs to be heeded. So, I’d say that will be the most important repair, simply to take issues critically earlier than individuals get damage.
At my port, our busiest dock (dk 12), was constructed within the 1940’s for the struggle and was meant to be momentary and solely used for five years. That was over 70 years in the past. It’s a large number of a dock.
When a superintendent’s (Ray T, I labored intently with on welding and chopping) car went into the water in ’09, there was no security gear (boat was locked after which wouldn’t begin) or procedures in place. A longshoremen had died that approach the yr earlier than. Then lastly one thing was achieved.
Q: What’s your outlook on the ILWU contract negotiations?
A: We appear near a conclusion, however then, I believed it might be achieved by Thanksgiving.
My few dealings with PMA have been unusual and irritating. One time, after being shorted on my trip pay, I known as PMA. They agreed I used to be right and stated they’d repair the issue in every week. Many cellphone calls and plenty of reversals of that first choice later, often saying that that they had by no means stated i used to be right and that my situation had been put into the “rejection space”, I used to be paid. However the entire thing grew to become a 6 month (began in February and resulted in August) struggle of attrition for 200 bucks. However for me, cash stopped being the problem after the 2nd week. So, I do really feel for my ILWU management.
Q: Are there any further phrases or messages you’d wish to share?
A: I’d say that there isn’t a purpose to robotically imagine administration over the employees, however again and again I’ve seen information accounts, affected industries accounts, blogs and and so forth. blindly imagine and reprint no matter PMA or firm officers say, which at instances are wildly inaccurate.
Thanks very a lot to your time and sharing your perspective, Mr. Griffen.
