Remembering the W.T.O. Protests That Rattled Seattle Twenty Years

Published by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union www.ilwu.org VOL 77, NO 10 • NOVEMBER 2019 THE INSIDE NEWS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 2 Union-made holiday gift guide 6 SEE IMPORTANT NOTICE ON DUES AND OBJECTION PROCEDURES Page 7 TRANSITIONS 8 Solidarity and action: An estimated 1500 ILWU members marched in Seattle on November 30, 1999, coming from locals and affiliates across the West Coast, including Hawaii and Canada to protest a meeting of the World Trade Organization. Remembering the W.T.O. protests that rattled Seattle We are the ILWU: IBU SoCal Region profile page twenty years ago page 4 remember that the morn- West Coast, Hawaii, and Canada. We and the U.S., that encouraged inves- ing of November 30, 1999, distributed the signs and banners to tors to send jobs to Mexico – with- was unseasonably warm for our ILWU group that had grown in out improving worker pay or labor I and began marching through the rights. NAFTA was promoted by the Seattle as I jumped into my car streets toward Memorial Stadium, corporate-friendly Clinton admin- for the short drive to our union proudly chanting “I L W U,” in a istration over the objection of labor headquarters at Fisherman’s spirited and united voice. Inside the unions. Passing a WTO agreement Terminal in Seattle. That’s massive stadium, we encountered was the next part of Clinton’s free where I met a small group of 30,000 other workers, activists and trade agenda – one we were strongly fellow members at our office of special guests who had arrived from opposed to that happening again. the Inlandboatmen’s Union of all over the world. This convergence ILWU International President the Pacific (IBU), the ILWU’s in the stadium was just a warm-up Brian McWilliams spoke near the for our main event that began when Marine Division. end of the rally but he got the loudest thousands of us marched out of the cheers from the stadium full of union Twenty years ago, tugboat work- stadium toward the World Trade members by announcing, “There will ers in the Puget Sound Region had Organization (WTO) meeting that be no business as usual today!” He elected me to serve as their business was scheduled to begin that day in explained ILWU members were not agent – and I’d also decided to run Seattle. working at West Coast ports that day for National President of the IBU – so The WTO is a body of corporate- as an expression of solidarity with it was a busy and exciting time. But I friendly bureaucrats who attracted workers, students, environmental- didn’t realize how much more excit- well-deserved scorn from millions ists, and citizen groups around the ing things would get during the next around the world that resented this world who had gathered in Seattle. 24 hours. international group that was estab- McWilliams said corporate global- Our group departed the union lished by and for global corporations ization and “free trade” was hurt- office with 300 picket signs, bull- to write the rules for world trade ing workers and communities – and horns, and our large union banner. with little or no concern for workers needed to be replaced by “fair trade” We loaded up our cars and headed or the environment. Five years earlier to help workers and protect the downtown to a pre-arranged meet- in 1994, many of these same corpo- environment in all countries. On that ing point at the Seattle Center foun- rations successfully lobbied Con- day, we all seemed to draw inspi- tain. We mustered there with 500 gress to approve the NAFTA “free ration and hope from the slogan, other ILWU members who were trade agreement” that covered busi- “another world is possible.” arriving from ports up and down the ness deals between Mexico, Canada contnued on page 6 Postmaster: Send address changes to The Dispatcher, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94109-6800. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Dispatcher, DISPATCHER • November 2019 1 protections allowed by the federal rank-and-file leader. He told me PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE bankruptcy court. While nobody that generations of his family have At the end of a two-week trial wants to take this step, it may be the lived in Flint and been active in the in Portland on November 4th, a best way to protect the ILWU and to United Autoworkers. They were jury decided a $93 million verdict allow us to return to sound financial union members from the beginning, against the ILWU and Local 8. footing as quickly as possible. including the 1936-‘37 “sit-down The size of the jury verdict left If that step is necessary, and we strike” in Flint that inspired workers us shocked, but worse was the hope it won’t be, your union will throughout the country and made mischaracterization throughout the continue helping new members GM a union company. trial that the ILWU does not care and ILWU veterans, just like we’ve Sean and I spent the day in Flint, about the Oregon community or the been doing since 1934. As your walking on picket lines and visiting Port of Portland. In fact, we are part President, I consider this my highest the “Sit-Down” memorial where of the community, and the men and duty. We all have an obligation to many workers, including some of his women of the ILWU literally broke protect this institution that was built family members, are honored. We their backs building and helping to by generations of working men and spoke with local union activists and make Portland’s container terminal women who sacrificed to improve leaders, young people and veterans. sustainable for years. working conditions and fight for the All of them talked about their union, While we respect the process, working class, despite the numerous the labor movement and the state we disagree with the excessive setbacks and obstacles encountered of America’s working class. It was a damages award, which supposedly along the way. chilly day, with burn barrels to keep compensated ICTSI for lost profits The ILWU’s democratic decision- strikers warm on the picket lines as and some additional costs for a making process, including the evening fell. They stayed on those he struggles that the five-year period. It is our view that International Executive Board and picket lines 24-hours a day for six ILWU is facing have the award is not supported by the the Longshore Division Caucus, long weeks, until the company finally brought us to a water- evidence, but based instead on will help us make the best decisions gave enough for a contract that was T ratified by 57% of the membership shed moment. We’re moving speculation. The award is also several possible. At the same time, we’ll be through a difficult storm in the times what ICTSI projected it would alert for any employer or politician – although it wasn’t the contract path of our union’s rich history make during that same five-year who thinks they can take advantage everyone hoped for. and continued story. There will time period. Because we believe the of this temporary setback. Finally, I’d I returned from my day in Flint like to clarify and reassure everyone humbled by what those autoworkers be painful conversations. A few jury’s damages award is inconsistent with the evidence, we will raise these that your ILWU pensions, savings were up against – and how bravely of our opponents have even plans and health benefits will not be they waged their struggle against dif- written obituaries for our union. concerns with the Court. The Judge has responded to our impacted by these legal matters. There ficult odds, in an industry that’s been But, rest assured, there are no will be no changes in your contracts outsourcing hundreds of thousands funeral plans and the ILWU will concerns by postponing entry of judgment on the verdict so we can or working conditions. of good-paying union jobs to plants survive this challenge. We must have the opportunity to tell the Court During the coming months we’ll in China, Mexico and “right-to-work- remain calm and focused. why we believe the verdict is not keep you informed as this process for-less” states in the southern U.S. Your elected officers recently supported by the evidence offered at unfolds. I’d like to finish this section But that’s not all – they’re also facing spent several weeks in Portland trial. That process is now underway, of the report by acknowledging the robots. The auto industry was using inside a federal courtroom at an but the Judge will not rule on the many messages of solidarity and 127,000 robots in 2016, and certainly important trial with other ILWU post-trial motions until February at support we’ve receive from unions has more today. To their credit, the and Coast Longshore Division the earliest. around the world who contacted us United Autoworkers has responded, in part, by undertaking organizing officers, including International Since early November, the after the verdict was announced. It’s campaigns to help autoworkers in Vice President Bobby Olvera, Jr., International Officers and the ILWU a reminder that workers everywhere southern states join the union. Those Secretary-Treasurer Ed Ferris, and Coast Longshore Division Coast need to stand up, stick together and campaigns have faced brutal opposi- Coast Committeemen Frank Ponce Committee Officers have been continue seeking justice. Let’s learn tion from the auto industry and politi- De Leon and Cameron Williams.

Load more