March 2020 1 out Bothlocations

Published by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union www.ilwu.org VOL 78, NO 3 • MARCH 2020 THE INSIDE NEWS Tartine workers vote to join ILWU 2 COVID-19 becomes medical and economic disaster 3 ILWU Women speakout 4 CRVS workers rally 6 ILWU delegation join MUA National Conference 7 TRANSITIONS 8 Pulling together: ILWU Local 13 linesmen tied-up the hospital ship Mercy on March 27. ILWU International VIce President ILWU Members Proudly Wes Furtado passes page 2 Welcome USNS Mercy to Port of Los Angeles embers of ILWU chain. Moving the economy, moving Angelenos have the medical care Locals 13, 63 and 94 cargo; we are open for business. The they need.” welcomed the USNS assistance the ILWU provided in Los “We are incredibly proud that M Angeles is just one example of how Mercy on March 27, working our members were a part of welcom- ILWU members are aiding in the together to tie up the ship as it ing USNS Mercy to Los Angeles and efforts to stop the spread of Covid- supporting our health care profes- docked in the Port of Los Ange- 19,” said ILWU International Presi- sionals while they care for the fami- les. The Mercy was escorted by dent Willie Adams. lies of our local communities and all two Foss Maritime tugs crewed “At a time when many Califor- of Los Angeles County,” said Danny by members of the Inlandboat- nians are being advised to stay at Miranda, president of Local 94. men’s Union, the maritime home, ILWU members are at work, ILWU Locals 13, 63 and 94 division of the ILWU. moving critically needed medical have worked closely with their part- supplies, personal protective equip- The naval hospital ship will ners at PMA, the Ports of Los Ange- ment, pharmaceuticals and house- help lift the burden on local hospi- les and Long Beach and all relevant hold goods to the American mar- tals and medical facilities that need government health agencies to pro- kets,” said ILWU Local 13 President to focus their resources on patients tect members during the COVID-19 Ray Familathe. affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. outbreak. This work has included More than 800 medical professionals “ILWU members are showing limiting the number of people gath- and support members will staff the up day in and day out to keep the ered in the dispatch halls, securing a 1,000-bed ship. economy robust and our supply vendor to clean the Longshore and chains strong,” said ILWU Local 63 Casual halls twice a day, and install- “ILWU longshoremen, mechan- President Mike Podue. “And today, ing hand sanitizer stations through- ics, marine clerks and foremen are they played a role in making sure out both locations. heroes on the front line of the supply Postmaster: Send address changes to The Dispatcher, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94109-6800. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Dispatcher, DISPATCHER • March 2020 1 IN MEMORIUM ILWU International VIce President (Hawaii) Wesley Furtado passes t is with great sadness and a worked on and led campaigns to and hotel contract negotiations. His heavy heart that we announce organize workers in Hawaii in vari- most recent campaign and significant the passing of Wesley “Wes” ous industries. In August 1989, he accomplishment was the creation of I was appointed as an International ILWU Local 100 where he organized Furtado, ILWU International Representative. In that capacity, he the supervisors at each of the shipping Vice President, Hawaii. Wes organized many companies, nego- companies in Hawaii and successfully started on the waterfront in tiated numerous, very difficult first negotiated their first contracts. 1978 as a second-generation contracts, and successfully negoti- Vice President Furtado was a Wes is survived by his wife, longshoreman and member of ated many contract renewals. devoted trade unionist who served Marla, and his daughter and son, ILWU Local 142. In 2000, Wes was elected as the ILWU with the highest amount Levana and Kyan. During his time on the water- ILWU International Vice President, of honor and dedication. Wes will There will be an in-depth front, he became a shop steward, Hawaii. Once elected as a Titled Offi- always be “Ohana” to the ILWU article about Wes’ life and accom- longshore unit officer, and longshore cer, he continued to carry the torch by and we will forever remember and plishments in a future edition of negotiating committee member. organizing new hotels in Hawaii and cherish the leadership, humor, and The Dispatcher. As a rank and file organizer, Wes providing support during longshore kindness that was Vice President Wesley Furtado. Tartine Bakery workers favor ILWU Randy C. Vekich lmost 200 Tartine Bakery two-dozen ballots had to be chal- munity members are responding Los Angeles where Tartine Bianca As The Dispatcher was workers participated in lenged and have yet to be tallied. generously to help Tartine workers. closed last December 19, after losing Aboutgoing two-thirds to press, of wethe learnedchallenged large sums of money. Bay Area work- a pair of union elections Artists help campaign A ballotsthat appear longtime to involveILWU leaderimpropri - ers say they need a union to negoti- held in the Bay Area on March Two renowned Bay Area artists etiesRandy - either becauseC. Vekich they werehad cast ate fairly with the Tartine’s corporate are donating their work to support 12 and 13, where a majority by supervisorspassed in earlyor by December. newly-hired culture. One of Tartine’s bakeries, at the fundraising drive. David Solnit signaled support for the ILWU. employeesThe March who had2020 never issue worked will a San Francisco’s International Airport, has created 100 autographed post- full shift.include Federal an obituary law prohibits honor either- already is represented by a union. Targeted by union-busters ers that will be available to the first grouping from his voting.life and contribu- The largest group of workers at donors who give $100 or more. Pho- tions to the ILWU. three San Francisco bakery locations NLRB will decide tographer David Bacon is donating a were targeted by management who A hearing will be conducted by series of signed art photos that will deployed professional union busters the National Labor Relations Board, be auctioned online to honor the that forced employees into manda- to review each of the two-dozen chal- workers’ union drive and the com- tory captive-audience meetings over lenged ballots, relying on facts and munity support effort. a period of four weeks prior to the evidence to make a final decision. Tartine goes corporate March 12 vote. A separate group of Community support remains key 18 Tartine Bakery workers in Berke- The original Tartine Bakery on ley had no contact with anti-union A few days after the elections, 18th and Guerrero Street in San Fran- consultants and voted unanimously Tartine management announced cisco became a sensation when it for the union. widespread layoffs at all four Bay Area opened years ago, triggering long lines Company pads voter rolls locations. Within days, union sup- of loyal patrons who loved the artisan porters organized a “Go Fund Me” bread and pastries. In recent years, The ballot count at those loca- site https://www.gofundme.com/f/Tar- Tartine became more corporate, open- tions showed workers prevail- tine-union-hardship-fund where com- ing a chain of outlets overseas and in ing for the union by 89 to 85, but Artist David Solnit and photographer David Bacon have donated their work Voting union: Tartine workers in San Francisco celebrating after their union election. to the relief efforts. ILWU TITLED OFFICERS Craig Merrilees William E. Adams, President The Dispatcher (ISSN 0012-3765) is published monthly except for a combined July/Aug issue, for $5.00 a year and $10.00 a year for non-members by the ILWU, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, Communications Director and Managing Editor Bobby Olvera, Jr., Vice President, Mainland CA 94109. Periodical postage paid at San Francisco, CA. The Dispatcher welcomes letters, Roy San Filippo Wesley Furtado, Vice President, Hawaii photos and other submissions to the above address © ILWU, 2012. Postmaster: Send address Editor Edwin Ferris, Secretary-Treasurer changes to The Dispatcher, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94109-6800. 2 DISPATCHER • March 2020 COVID19 becomes a medical and economic disaster s The Dispatcher was going to press in March, Athe COVID19 virus had become a global pandemic, claiming 27,000 lives world- wide and making the US the most-afflicted nation on earth with 185,000 confirmed cases and a domestic death toll of 3,800 and rising. Washington State and California are the West Coast hotspots, but the COVID19 virus has now spread to all 50 states. Eighty-percent of Americans are living under “shelter-in-place” orders issued by state governors after the federal government failed to act. President Trump ignored advice from public health experts to prepare ahead and act early. Instead, the Presi- dent delayed and minimized the threat until the virus spread throughout the United States and shortages of venti- Healthcare workers at Highland Hospital in Oakland, CA protest lack of personal protective equipment lators and face masks led to chaos in available in the U.S. hospitals - forcing doctors, nurses and other health workers to be needlessly Painful history lesson and malaria – many of which were elim- fication, plus farm and nutrition pro- infected. Public health officials have long inated through battles for better hous- grams that helped both rural and urban As usual, workers were paying the advocated for strategies to prevent ing, clean water and sanitation, univer- Americans. highest price for incompetence at the sal public education and voting rights.

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