The Dispatcher (ISSN 0012-3765) is published monthly except for a combined July/August issue, for $5.00 a year and 95 Vol. 62, No. 8 $10.00 a year for non-members by the ILWU, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94109. Periodical postage paid at San September 2004 Francisco, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Dispatcher, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94109. www.ilwu.org

INSIDE IBU : Union-busting environmental hazard ...... 3 Dutch workers protest government austerity plan ...... 5 ILWU Longshore History and Traditions Conference ...... 6 ILWU election endorsements ...... 8-9 Brother Jerry Martin killed in car wreck ...... 11 2• September 2004 Inside Line

BEYOND TRADITIONAL HISTORY “Philosophers have interpreted his- tory in many different ways. The point, however, is to change it.” Crisis and solutions History as we learn it in school text books is the story of great men By James Spinosa growth from port communities and elected officials as long as the and great wars determining the out- ILWU International President come. Rarely if ever is the centuries ports are seen as the giant industrial pollution generator. We must old basic conflict in human society he shipping industry on the West Coast is in a crisis, with make every incremental move possible to clean up our industry. ILWU between the rulers and the workers dozens of ships backed up at the Ports of and Long members have a real stake in this—before these emissions become referred to. Yet from the ancient TBeach, turn-around times twice as long as usual and conges- pollutants in the community they are in the air we breathe at work all Greek democracies that were based tion on the docks exacerbating pollution and safety problems. day. And we live in these communities. We want to come home from on a slave economy, to the feudal Diverting ships to other West Coast ports has not relieved the prob- work to healthy families and clean neighborhoods. societies where landlord royalty lem in Southern California, but only spread it to those other docks. But terminal operators resisted the night gates proposal arguing, kept serfs in line, to capitalists The entire cargo transportation system is overwhelmed, the current with some legitimacy, that truckers wouldn’t use them because they exploiting wage workers, humanity infrastructure and mode of operation pushed past its capabilities. couldn’t drop off their loads with warehouses closed at those hours. has too long an historical tradition It’s not as if this wasn’t foreseen or isn’t the obvious result of So shippers, especially those with large warehouses, need to do their of oppressor and oppressed to be policy decisions. Industry analysts have for the last decade been fore- part and have their receiving operations working night hours. ignored. And that’s what the history of casting annual double-digit percentage growth in the number of con- Still, the terminal operators never took the night gates notion the ILWU—the history that shaped tainers hitting West Coast ports, with only 9-11 and the Pacific seriously until California Assembly member Alan Lowenthal threat- the traditions of this union—are all Maritime Association’s lockout in 2002 providing temporary speed ened legislation to force the matter. Then they came forward with their about and what the Longshore bumps. The free trade agreements U.S. government officials have own “voluntary” night gate program to start in November. So Division’s latest seminar on its his- been promulgating have had the predicted effects—manufacturing Lowenthal withdrew his bill. But now that plan is being postponed tory and traditions held in Septem- jobs have been sent to Asia in search of cheap labor and since little until next March. ber was about (see story pages 6-7). is made here any more, all those goods must be shipped in. China’s The reason for the delay, say terminal operators, is the labor It is essential the rank and file have monster economy continues to export at an accelerating rate and shortage at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. But that is the an understanding of that history Wal-Mart’s Asian-made Christmas goods could by themselves over- result of poor management planning. and that they keep constant, vigi- whelm just about any Since last February lant watch over that heritage. port. And since the the leadership of South- The bloody birth of the union in the 1934 strike, with its six industry as a whole ern California longshore deaths and hundreds of injuries has done little to coor- We need to Local 13 has been coastwise and the ferocity of the dinate and prepare for requesting PMA bring 1948 strike, with the ILWU’s first it besides build bigger 2,000 casuals up to reg- Taft-Hartley injunction and the in- and bigger ships, the start utilizing the istered “B” status and your-face rank-and-file rejection of doomsday scenario sign up 5,000 new government coercion—both ending industry analysts proj- casuals. But it took until in great victory—seem sometimes ect “if something isn’t infrastructure we August, when the peak to be heroic myths, legendary tales done soon” are coming season crunch was of a time when people of greater true. upon us, for the employ- stature dared defining battles and have to its fullest For more than ers to concede the wis- emerged victorious. But 2002 served notice that the three years now the capacity, and dom of the union and ever-consolidating global companies ILWU has been propos- begin promoting, hiring that make up the ILWU’s employer ing solutions, talking and training. The prob- group are still willing to take great about long-term infra- that means lem is that it takes risks to bust this union. Their lock- structure needs and months to train that out broke the cargo supply chain short-term fixes to get many people and get and it took them months to fix it. by in the meantime. But running the them working effectively The ship owners and terminal oper- the ship owners and on the ground. By then ators lost millions, their customers, terminal operators who terminals 24/7. the peak season will be the shipper and retailers, lost even make up our employer over. more, and the damage to the econo- group, the PMA, have Another bad man- my is difficult to calculate. They backed off and the union won an ignored and resisted agement decision also agreement with a six-year extension our proposals. This has contributes to the so- of its Cadillac health plan, the to change if the industry both the union and the employers depend on called “labor shortage.” As the railroads restricted the number of con- biggest pension increases in the his- is going to survive and grow, if our port communities are going go be tainers they would accept from each terminal and the docks backed tory of the American labor move- healthy and sustainable and if the American economy is to thrive. up, container yards had to switch from “wheeled” operations, where ment and jurisdiction over the new Clearly there has been a large underinvestment in the trans- containers are stored on chassis and are ready to roll, to “decked” computer technology, but they’re portation infrastructure that needs to be addressed. The railroads operations, where containers are stacked three, four and five high. not done yet. need more locomotives, rail cars, track and skilled workers. Trucking Decked operations require six times more skilled cargo-handling At the seminar, after the aca- needs expanded highways and rigs that burn cleaner fuels. Stevedore equipment operators to run top picks, side picks and strads. The demics praised the union, and the companies need off-dock terminals and staging areas to relieve con- union has been calling for more members to be trained on the heavy historians had recounted its glory gestion and cargo-handling equipment that burns cleaner fuels. equipment, but the PMA has been slow to respond. and the international unionist guests paid homage to the ILWU, This is admittedly a huge investment, some of which must come The employers’ solution has been to ask workers to double back, the scary part was the last day’s from the industry, but much of which must come from government. to work two shifts back-to-back. But fatigue is a major factor in acci- look to the future—the scenes of But we’re not likely to get that kind of money until we’ve made the dents. And the congested docks with containers stacked high and the automated ports of Rotterdam most of what we have now. And once funding is secured, these proj- more heavy equipment running around are raising the risks of an and Singapore where so few work- ects will still take time to complete and the crisis is upon us now. So already dangerous job. ers run operations larger than the we need to implement some immediate short-term solutions. The last time we saw a situation this bad was in 2002 when Los Angeles/Long Beach complex. We need to start utilizing the infrastructure we have to its fullest we had a record five deaths in five months. We are not going to pay Yes, you have the best wages, capacity, and that means running the terminals 24/7. For several the price again to save employers from their own bad decision- conditions and benefits of any work- years now the ILWU has been advocating night gates. Spreading the making, especially since we warned them well in advance and ers. And, yes, as Professor Peter truck traffic out over 16 or 24 hours instead of trying to squeeze it all offered solutions. Turnbull of the University of Wales into eight hours will reduce long lines of trucks idling and spewing It is time for all stakeholders in the industry—ship owners, ter- who specializes in the shipping industry, said, whenever he asks any diesel emissions. It will also give the truckers a chance to make more minal operators, railroads, the trucking industry, shippers and the dockworker union in the world than the 1.7 turns a day they now average and make a better living. unions, along with the port communities, environmentalists and which union they most admire, they And it will reduce highway traffic during peak hours—fewer traffic elected officials—to begin working together for real long-term solu- respond without exception, “the jams equals less pollution. tions. And it’s time for all to start taking seriously the proposals of the ILWU.” But also, whenever he asks Let’s be clear here. We are never going to get the buy-in for people who do the work of running the industry day-to-day. the CEOs of the world’s largest steamship and terminal operator companies which union they most would like to get rid of, they respond ILWU Titled Officers without exception, “the ILWU.” Yes, you are a great big target, and they are already setting the Published monthly except for a combined July/August issue, for $5.00, $10 non-members, JAMES SPINOSA groundwork for the 2008 contract. a year by the ILWU, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94109-6898. The Dispatcher President So get ready—it’s time to make welcomes letters, photos and other submissions to the above address. © ILWU, 2004. some history of your own. ROBERT McELLRATH WESLEY FURTADO www.ilwu.org Vice President Vice President —Steve Stallone Steve Stallone Editor Editor WILLIAM E. ADAMS Tom Price Assistant Editor Secretary-Treasurer September 2004 • 3 Union-busting is an environmental hazard

orkers at Marine Spill full teams of six people available. Two Response Corp. (MSRC) in people had already been reassigned WLong Beach fear their effec- from the Los Angles-Long Beach area tiveness and their safety on the job to San Diego when MSRC “cascaded” have been compromised since MSRC five more to the Gulf Coast. took over local oil spill response activ- “We were already short-handed, ities three months ago and ditched and you never know when some- their contract with the IBU. thing’s going to happen,” said MSRC MSRC absorbed Clean Coastal worker Jose Esqueda. Waters (CCW) July 1. CCW respon- The company has told the work- ders had voted in 1998 to join the ers they can use contractors to fill Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific. staffing holes. They say MSRC should honor its obli- “State law requires dedicated, gation to bargain with the union, local responders,” Gilham said. because it hired all of them when it “Contractors won’t necessarily be took over CCW. MSRC has refused. familiar with the Harbor and with the Like firefighters, spill responders specific equipment we use.” must be available 24/7, 365 days a The workers also worry that year. They use a variety of equipment, MSRC pays less attention to safety including trucks, trailers, barges and than did CCW. They cite insufficient small boats, and they need to know training and lack of basic safety pre- how to operate and maintain them all. cautions. They need to know how to deal with While CCW used to hold safety Carlos Cordon hazardous materials and monitor trainings once or twice a month, IBU members and supporters tell MSRC its excuse for union-busting puts the release of toxics at a spill site, and they MSRC held none in the three months LA-Long Beach Harbor at risk. MSRC claims it doesn’t have to bargain with must be intimately acquainted with after it took over. Some of MSRC’s the union in Southern California because its workers respond to oil spills all the area they work. barges lack non-skid covering on over the world. “We not only need to know our their decks and protective guard Fifteen of the 20 workers who ILWU longshore Local 13 President equipment, but the tides, currents, rails, responder Joe Elder said. would be covered by an IBU contract David Arian, and a representative environment and animal life,” said “The decks are super-smooth and with MSRC in Southern California from Long Beach City Council mem- MSRC responder Garrick Gilham. not slip protected,” Elder said. “If signed a petition reiterating their ber Dan Baker’s office also spoke at “We have to know the ins and outs of there were oil on things during a spill, desire for union recognition and the rally. In addition to the Harbor the Harbor like the backs of our you’d be done. When there’s no guard everyone who was at work Sept. 13 Area ILWU locals, several other port hands.” rail with an open propeller, you could delivered it to management. unions sent members, including the CCW had handled oil spill be ground up if you fell off the stern.” MSRC workers and their sup- MMP, MEBA, MFOW and SUP, as did response from Point Dume to the Though MSRC has set up a safe- porters, including one in a Flipper the the Teamsters, PACE and the United Mexican border since 1972. While ty committee, that body lacks any Dolphin costume, leafleted a meeting Teachers of Los Angeles. CCW had a local focus, MSRC oper- power to enforce its decisions. of MSRC’s clients Sept. 23. Around MSRC Vice President and CFO ates all over the world, and has “The grievance procedure in our 100 people, including Long Beach Douglas Ferrari agreed to talk with the claimed the right to send workers contract gave us a way of addressing City Council member Laura Richard- IBU, but then hired attorney Roger from Southern California wherever safety issues and enforcing solutions,” son, joined the workers in a rally the Schnapp—a self-described “union they’re needed. It calls this staff shuf- said IBU Southern California Region- next day in front of MSRC’s Long avoidance” specialist—to speak for the fle “cascading.” al Director Peter Korody. “Without a Beach headquarters. Hector Cepeda company. The workers say they need three contract we can’t follow through.” of the South Bay Community Center, —Marcy Rein Putting faith to work for justice BERKELEY, CA—“My sister-in-law hotel workers and dozens of local was diagnosed with liver cancer and struggles. They have campaigned for given a year to live,” UFCW 870 mem- living wage laws in many cities, for ber Diane Powe told the members of fair treatment for poultry workers Temple Beth-El in the tranquil and for workers at USF Dugan truck- Berkeley hills. Sun lit the stained glass ing terminals and at CINTAS—the behind Powe as she spoke during nation’s largest industrial laundry— Shabbat services the Friday before who want to join a union. Labor Day as part of the annual “Labor NICWJ sent clergy members on in the Pulpits” program coordinated by fact-finding delegations to six CINTAS the National Interfaith Committee for facilities across the country, then pro- Worker Justice (NICWJ). duced and publicized a report, “Airing “My brother is also a member of Dirty Laundry.” It got congregations 870. Because he has benefits, she was around the country to pledge to not able to get chemo and is now cancer- use CINTAS until the company sat free,” Powe said, underlining the down and talked with workers about urgency of passing Prop. 72, the their desire for representation. Finally, November ballot measure that would the company agreed to meet with eight provide health insurance to more NICWJ representatives Oct. 4. than a million working families in “We can add another voice at the California. table that strengthens the workers Two days later, ATU Local 192 when we act in partnership,” said Executive Board member Yvonne NICWJ Executive Director Kim Bobo. Williams and Dr. Steven Pitts of the Most faiths have a strong social justice Center for Labor Research and tradition, Bobo said, but the

Education at UC Berkeley brought Committee has a key role to play in re- Marcy Rein their stories to the Liberty Hill framing issues so people understand “Labor in the Pulpits” brings workers’ issues to churches, mosques and syna- Missionary Baptist Church just a cou- how unions fit under that umbrella. gogues the weekend before Labor Day. Here, UFCW Local 870’s Diane Powe ple miles away on a busy corner near “We have to explain that union speaks to Congregation Beth El in Berkeley, Calif. downtown. As Rabbi Ferenc Raj did issues are not labor/management dis- for credible and effective outreach. who shared the pulpit with her at at the temple, Rev. Dr. Marvis V. putes, but community economic jus- “Once the word is spread in Liberty Hill, took that idea one more Peoples added his emphasis to the vis- tice questions,” she said. church, there’s no telling how widely it step. itors’ message. Though Islam places a strong will be received,” said Glen Houston, a “A stronger labor movement leads “We understand what labor is all emphasis on justice, the American member of the Board of Deacons at with people’s whole selves,” Pitts said. about here,” Pastor Peoples said, Muslim community is just getting Liberty Hill and shop steward with “By exploring the whole, we can see “and we all want Prop. 72 to pass.” active on workers’ issues, said NICWJ SEIU 250. But connecting through how people are connected on and off “Labor in the Pulpits” has been board member Hussam Ayloush, exec- faith can bring much more than that the job. These connections represent one of the signature events for the utive director of the Southern to organizing. Being supported and the glue you need to build solidarity.” eight-year-old Chicago-based NICWJ, California office of the Council on accompanied by clergy can refresh and The NICWJ also partners with the which educates and mobilizes religious American-Islamic relations. encourage workers involved in drawn- national AFL-CIO to run “Seminary groups on low-wage workers’ issues. “The teachings of the Koran out struggles, many suggested, and Summer,” which places student clergy Its national board draws in Catholics, stress over and over the importance can help unions strengthen their roots in union internships, does voter regis- Jews, Muslims and Protestants of of treating well the people who work in the community and their ties with tration, and is planning a national con- numerous denominations, as do its 60 for you,” Ayloush said. Drawing on their members. ference on religion and labor for May affiliate groups around the country. these teachings, he and his colleagues “Labor is about family, the welfare 22-24, 2005. To get more information NICWJ draws on deeply rooted flyered and spoke at mosques to build of families and working people,” said on the group, the conference or local values to build awareness, alliances support for the Southern California Yvonne Williams. “Churches work on affiliates, call 773-728-8400 or visit and actions. Members of affiliate grocery workers. spiritual welfare. I like the idea of www.nicwj.org. groups have been on the lines recent- As Ayloush’s work makes clear, bridging the two.” Dr. Steven Pitts, —Marcy Rein ly supporting grocery workers and religious services offer an opportunity 4• September 2004 Solidarity and survival ILWU Canada locals assist each other LWU Canada locals have shown great solidarity with one another, Ihelping a struggling local to try to retain its work and then taking many of its members into their locals when much of that work was lost. In 1971 Local 518 Testers and Samplers was given a charter by the ILWU Canadian Area. Besides testers the local also represents marine sur- veyors and lab technicians. From 1971 to 1989 they were very successful in capturing work from all the small sam- pling operations around the waterfront and were able to greatly expand their jurisdiction. But beginning in 1990 the two main employers started finding ways to go around Local 518 and do the work with non-union employees. This came to a head in 1998 when a compa- ny with ties to one of the large employ- ers won the sampling contract for all the sulphur shipped out of the west coast of Canada. This was the begin- ning of the bad times for the members of Local 518. Some of the Local 518 members being welcomed to their new home by Local 502 members and casuals. Back row Although all the Canadian locals left to right: Wally Rabey 518 and new 502 D Board; Mike Birmingham, 502 Dispatcher; Rick Cookson, outgoing Vice and many retired members took part President of 518 and new 502 D Board; Louise Mackay, 502 F Board; Mark Gray, 502 H Board; Ron Audet, 518 mem- in numerous protests, and there were ber and new 502 D Board; Dave Cochrane, outgoing President 518 and new 502 D Board; Larry Kalish, 502 Executive several shutdowns of the sulphur ter- Member; and Gary Newman, 518 member and new 502 D Board. Front left to right: Local 502 casuals Samantha minals, the contract for sulphur test- McPhee, Cindy Miller and Carol Gwartney. ing was passed on to a non-union com- pany. Seven ILWU pensioners and union company. This non-union com- working full- or part-time in the long- lifestyles and their dignity. most of Local 518’s members were pany has taken away almost two- shore locals. This support helped Local In the meantime 10 other Local arrested at various times for illegal thirds of the work formerly done by 518 regain some of the concessions at a 518 members who were registered for picketing of these terminals. The pen- members of Local 518. recent bargaining session. longshore are still working part-time sioners were all found not guilty, but During this time Local 518 mem- In 2003 Local 502 decided it was in the testing industry and are cur- the 518 members were found guilty bers were forced into a position that, time to do something about this “tem- rently working part-time in Local and given a range of fines. In solidari- if they did not take severe conces- porary” arrangement. They took the 500. Due to this generosity Local 518 ty fashion, the cost of the fines were sions, the unionized company that question of the 15 members working has still been able to carry on. This covered by the members of ILWU still employed them would lose what in their port to a referendum vote to has allowed the local to continue to Canada. Despite this brave fight the work it had to the non-union compa- make their solution permanent. For function, although with the loss of sulphur contract was lost. ny. They gave away their short term the past six or seven years Local 502 the 15 members to Local 502 there is On several occasions Local 518 disability benefits, pension, weekend has been the beneficiary of gigantic some question as to whether this will took the fight to Washington and premiums and four years of previous- growth in their work opportunity and be the situation for the future. Still, Oregon chasing ships that had their ly agreed to raises in order to hold the officers of the local recommended about 20 samplers who are not regis- cargo sampled by non-union testers onto the work they had. that these unemployed Local 518 tered for longshore are underem- when they were loaded in Canada. Although ILWU Canada was not members, who were the junior mem- ployed in the sampling industry. When Local 518 was looking for help successful in turning back this chal- bers in seniority in their own local, There are some rumors of sam- Locals 4, 8 and 21 all came to their lenge they were very helpful in coordi- should be transferred to the D Board pling contracts returning to Local 518, aid by refusing to work ships that had nating the support of other locals of (casual board) in Local 502. These jun- but at this time they are only rumors. been sampled non-union. Also, ILWU Canada. Local 517, a medium- ior members who were displaced all The remaining members are all still through the ITF, Japanese longshore sized local mainly comprised of port had between 18 and 25 years service in facing varying levels of underemploy- workers also showed great solidarity, authority workers, was able to find the unionized sampling industry. ment, but without the help of Locals refusing to discharge several vessels. employment for one 518 member. In early 2004 this question of 500, 502, 517 and ILWU Canada it is The situation grew worse in Longshore locals 500 and 502 were transferred members was put to a ref- doubtful that the local would have sur- January 2000 when several coal com- able to begin registering Local 518 erendum vote of Local 502 and it vived up to now. Meanwhile with all panies decided to move their coal members and allowing them to work in passed. With the work increasing in the difficulties faced by Local 518 sampling contracts to the same non- either of these locals, although initially Local 502 there has not been one day members the non-union sampling union company. Since that time the there was some reluctance on the part since the transfer was completed that company continues to thrive on the level of unemployment in Local 518 of the employers to register members they have not been able to work. They British Columbia waterfront. has been very high. In March 2002 who had been convicted of illegally are now fully integrated into the Canpotex, the international potash picketing. This originally began as workforce and most of them are cur- —Dave Cochrane, outgoing President of Local conglomerate, decided to move all seven members, but over time has rently receiving training to allow 518 and one of the new 502 D Board members potash sampling to the same non- grown now to 26 Local 518 members them to continue to maintain their —Mark Gordienko, Local 500 Local 21 gives “union Dump Dubya Don’t forget to books” new meaning take out the

ongshore Local 21’s fifth annual helped pull off the event. They want- trash Nov. 2 charity golf tournament raised ed their efforts to benefit children in Ltwice as much money as organiz- their community and chose RIF after ers hoped, bringing in $4,200 for the screening several programs. literacy group “Reading Is Funda- A national, all-volunteer group, mental.” Around 144 people partici- RIF raises money from individual pated in the Sept. 14 event, held at the and corporate donations, grants and Lewis River Golf Course in Woodland, the U.S. Dept. of Education. The Wash. Members of longshore Locals 4, Cowlitz County program Local 21 8, 12, 19, 21, 27, and 50 and walking donated to focuses on children in bosses’ Local 92 joined golfers from kindergarten through third grade. It local businesses and the Ports of sends volunteers into the schools to Longview and Klamath. read to children and give away books. “We wanted to have a union tour- “The $4,200 will buy about 1,700 nament where guys could have a good books,” said RIF’s Cowlitz County time with each other off the job, and Coordinator Jody Kirkpatrick. Many we wanted to get the word out that of these go to children who otherwise longshoremen aren’t a bunch of ho- wouldn’t have books of their own, she hums who just go to the job and don’t said. care about the community,” said “These guys [Longshore Local Local 21’s John Philbrook, who 21] have been absolutely wonderful,” chaired the event. Local 21 members Kirkpatrick said. “They are the Mike Mackey, Lyle Mackey, Bill champions of RIF.” Brister, Mick Seidel and Bud Lile also —MER September 2004 • 5 New Zealand dockers strike against casualization by Tom Price crews load the ship themselves, a vio- ockworkers in New Zealand lation of dockers’ rights. The dockers already had enough of casualiza- are concerned for their own jobs and Dtion, with some union members they are deeply concerned about the on the casual board for a decade or exploitation of foreign workers who more. They brought the issue to the might be imported to take union jobs. bargaining table, but nine months after “Workers are under threat from a their contract expired and no move- globalized labor market where ment from the employers in negotia- employers can move labor around as tions they had enough. The 260 dockers a commodity, without regard to the in Auckland, that nation’s largest con- economic effects on local workers or tainer port, voted Aug. 25 for a four-day the human rights of overseas work- walkout beginning Sept. 8. ers,” the MUNZ said in its Sept. 6 “The Maritime Union will press release. increase the pressure through indus- The MUNZ also has a reputation trial means on any employer who of defending distressed sailors on treats its workers as disposable com- flag-of-convenience ships. modities rather than as human “Our members work on a daily beings,” said Maritime Union of New basis with ships and crews from Zealand General Secretary Trevor Third World countries who are Hanson. Casualization is the largest exploited, silenced and endangered on remaining issue in negotiations. these ships of shame, and we will Many dockers “lived at the end of fight any attempt to introduce Third a telephone,” according to MUNZ World conditions or casualized sweat- New Zealand dockers strike against casualization. They see their strike as an Local 13 Branch President Denis shop labor into New Zealand,” action for all who are trapped in part-time work. Carlisle. They would never get regu- Hanson said. lar work because the company pre- Worldwide support was quick in day and the event turned into a sort the same companies that operate the ferred to keep them divided and com- coming. The International Transport of party the New Zealanders call a docks in New Zealand, have vowed peting for jobs. Workers’ Federation put out the word “Maori welcome.” whatever support was necessary for a “The action we are taking is to on the strike, and support came from The streets around the terminals successful resolution to the dispute. help our members and all workers places like Europe, Korea, Japan and were blocked as MUA Sydney Branch The union met with employers who are trapped in part-time and the U.S. Secretary Robert Coombs and Victoria and government mediator Colleen casual jobs,” Carlisle said. “Transport workers around the Deputy Branch Secretary David Hicks later that day. Carlisle reported New Zealand’s employers are world have shown that globalization Schleibs arrived at the line. One of the the employers had moved a little, importing more horticulture and fish- has more than a corporate face—it picketers, dressed in the Maori cos- with new contract offers. ing workers, and even prison guards, has a human face as well,” ILWU tume of New Zealand’s native peoples, The strike continued until its from low-wage countries. Now the International President Jim Spinosa did a ceremonial warrior’s dance chal- planned end on Sept. 12. Workers met government is signing “free” trade said in his Sept. 9 letter of support. lenging Coombs’ peaceful intentions. the following day and voted to give deals with China and Thailand, coun- “Let the employers know that the Coombs made a gesture showing he negotiators authorization for a seven- tries with horrible labor rights ILWU stands ready to support our sis- and his mates were peaceful, and they day strike if further negotiations pro- records. The New Zealand merchant ters and brothers in New Zealand.” were welcomed into the picket line duced no better results. marine has descended into a mostly By Sept. 10 the strike had shut with open arms. “The members are very deter- flag-of-convenience fleet, with low- down most of Auckland, with 260 While there Coombs took the mined at this stage, they feel strongly paid workers replacing New dockers on the line. Australian opportunity to tell New Zealand about the issue of casualization and Zealand’s proud seafarers. Steamship wharfies from the Maritime Union of National Television that his want to hold the line for permanent, companies often try to make the Australia arrived at Auckland that Australian members, who work for secure jobs,” Carlisle said. Dutch workers protest government austerity plan by Tom Price the Queen’s speech, leaving between plan. Polls also show the current coali- of consultation between labor, govern- otterdam dockers closed the 10 and 20 containerships anchored tion government is deeply unpopular ment and business on important social world’s largest port for a second and waiting for the 24-hour strike to with the voters. issues. Speaking for FNV, its Chair- Rtime in two weeks Oct. 2 as they be over. Nearly 60,000 participated in The strike and demo were over man Lodewijk de Waal explained the joined thousands of other Dutch work- Rotterdam that day, according to social issues, not surprising given union’s position on this change to ers in a national strike against govern- Agence France Presse. About 20,000 that the main Dutch labor federation, Radio Netherlands: ment austerity schemes. Those rail others demonstrated in The Hague the FNV, also includes large numbers “We have a long tradition of con- workers who were not striking provid- and Amsterdam, the nation’s capital, of unemployed and disabled people sensus economy in The Netherlands,” ed free transportation under an agree- in a dress rehearsal for the massive among its 1.2 million members. de Waal said. “We had meetings and ment reached with railway companies Oct. 2 rally. Opposition Labor Party leader councils on almost everything. For and as many as 250,000 workers and Workers pulled many side demon- Wouter Bos had demanded in parlia- example, on changes in social legisla- citizens rallied in front of the famous strations in between the two big ones. ment Sept. 21 that the government tion, we prepared alternatives togeth- museums in Amsterdam. Workers in the food and metal indus- negotiate with the union on the cut- er with the employers’ federations, At issue in both demos are pro- tries joined workers in public trans- backs, but the government refused. but this cabinet doesn’t want to listen posals from the right-wing govern- port, retail trades, civil services and This violates a long-standing practice to society at all.” ment to “liberalize” the economy by even the military all over the country raising the retirement age to 66, for noon rallies Sept. 27. Truckers Dutch dockers defeat government lengthening the workweek without pulled off the roads in protest at noon increasing pay, cutting pensions and two days later in efforts coordinated withdrawal from ILO convention slashing support for the disabled and by CB radio and cell phone. unemployed. Education costs would Amsterdam was packed with a When The Netherlands’ government unilaterally announced Jan. 26 it would rise. The plan included no provisions quarter million demonstrators Oct. 2. no longer abide by a crucial ILO convention protecting dockers’ rights, the dock- to raise taxes on the rich or corpora- As many as another 70,000 couldn’t ers union went to court. On Oct. 4 the Netherlands’ high court ruled the govern- tions. These measures were read to make it to the museum plaza. Those ment should implement the convention through parliamentary action. who did heard unionists demand the parliament Sept. 21 by Dutch Queen International Labor Organization Convention 137 protects dockers from casu- Beatrix, who spoke for Prime government put any further cuts to a popular vote, something the govern- alization by requiring a list of registered dock workers be kept by the government Minister Jan Peter Balkenende. The and that workers be hired from it. It also gives hiring preference to dockers laid off social budget cuts would total $7.4 ment so far has refused to do. A refer- due to automation. The ILO, an agency of the UN, is made up of labor, business billion this year, on top of $16 billion endum would find at least 60 percent in cuts in the past two years. of voters opposed to the cuts, accord- and government representatives. It sets standards called conventions that coun- Docker demonstrations led closed ing to recent polls. Union members, tries ratify to protect worker rights. the port of Rotterdam the day before who make up 27 percent of the work- The Dutch government ratified the convention in 1976, but never passed leg- force, overwhelmingly oppose the islation to implement it, relying instead on the employers to keep a list and use it. The employers decided in 2000 to scrap the registration list. Rather than pass legislation to enforce the list, the government chose to scrap the convention alto- gether. The government claimed it was following “open market” principles that would open docker jobs to just about anyone, without protection for existing work- ers’ job rights. The dockers’ union, FNV Bondgenoten, part of the largest union in The Netherlands’ FNV federation, protested loudly and gathered international support. “If we lose in The Netherlands then the Belgians and Germans also lose,” FNV Bondgenoten Coordinator Niek Stam told The Dispatcher at the time. “If they can cheapen labor in Rotterdam, that will affect them because the ship owners will say their ports must lower prices or lose cargo to Rotterdam. If they can do it to the largest port in the world, they can do it anywhere.” Recognizing this danger, dockers around the world vowed support. The court’s ruled the government was obligated under the convention to pass a law implement- ing its provisions. The union will ask its friends in parliament to propose legislation. Dutch dockerslead the social strike in Rotterdam, September 20. —Tom Price 6• September 2004 Longshore History and Traditions:

Story by Steve Stallone ple of dramatic passages from Mike Quin’s book procedures within its organization and with its affil- Photos by Frank Wilder “The Big Strike” about the 1934 maritime strike iations with other union federations and how the s part of its ongoing member education pro- (every participant received a copy). She then spoke rank and file have participated in the union’s demo- gram, the ILWU Longshore Division devel- of the 1948 longshore strike, the first imposition of cratic processes over time. Levi presented a compar- Aoped the new “Longshore History and the Taft-Hartley injunction on the ILWU and the ative study she did of the effectiveness of the ILWU’s Traditions” seminar designed to mine the past to wave of anti-communism in the 1940s and 1950s democratic process versus the idealized American prepare for the future. Held Sept. 26-30 in Palm that was used to throw longshore workers off the version, concluding that the ILWU model works best Springs, Calif., the seminar spanned the West docks, chase union activists and officials out of the when the rank-and-file participate. Coast longshore story from before the union’s movement and destroy many unions. Although the “The union will make us strong, but it’s up to beginning in 1934 through the 2002 contract cam- ILWU defied and survived those attacks, McElrath the rank and file to make the union strong,” she paign and up to this moment. posed the question and challenge to the atten- said. Retired ILWU veterans, well-known political dees—with that kind of history, what does the Bill Ward, president of the writers and critics, labor history professors and future hold for the ILWU? Area Pensioners and a Coast Committeeman for ILWU officials all made presentations. Some 150 The seminar began in earnest Monday morning more than 20 years under Harry Bridges and members from all the longshore locals on the West with an historical overview of the early years of mar- Jimmy Herman, emphasized the importance of Coast, Hawaii and even British Columbia attended, itime labor and the first organizing attempts on the rank-and-file participation for success. As difficult the majority of them younger union activists. They West Coast by San Francisco State University labor and hazardous as the 2002 negotiations were, 2008 absorbed speeches, PowerPoint presentations and history professor Robert Cherny. He described how negotiations will be harder. videos, and took home piles of documents for fur- the first West Coast ports developed and how the “You all have a job to do,” Ward told the mem- ther review and study. And in the ILWU tradition awful working conditions spurred the first organiz- bers. “If you have the discipline of the rank and file the attendees took every opportunity to hit the mic ing drives by stevedores and riggers. Strikes were and the ranks design your programs at the Caucus with questions and opinions. lost in all four major ports in the few years following and the International Convention, you will win.” International Vice President Bob McEllrath WWI, leading to work conditions so appalling that in Moved by the day’s discussions, Bill Fletcher opened the Sunday afternoon welcoming session. the 1920s longshore work was second only to mining tossed his prepared remarks on “Social Justice Then Pacific Coast Pensioners Association as the most dangerous industry in the country. The Unionism” and spoke passionately and bluntly President Arne Auvinen, one of several ILWU veter- desperation of the Great Depression and the election about the situation unions now face. ans making presentations who embody the union’s of Franklin Roosevelt as president in 1932 led to the “The framework of trade unionism we’ve been history, explained the origins of the pensioners passage of the National Industrial Recovery Act that working under is dead,” Fletcher said. “Capital has group. The union negotiated its first pension with for the first time in U.S. history codified workers’ no interest in labor as a partner any more—it the employer group the Pacific Maritime Association legal rights to organize. This gave rise to maritime wants to annihilate us.” in the 1951 contract and the first pension checks workers on the West Coast striking and winning Capital is being reshaped in the era of globaliza- were cut in July 1952. At first the pensioners gath- union recognition. Longshore workers won a union- tion. The Group of 8, the eight industrialized ered as a social club to keep in touch with old pals controlled hiring hall, a coastwise contract, wage nations that meet to decide the fate of the world’s and then they started working on seniors’ issues. In increases and a six-hour day and 30-hour week. economy (Fletcher called them the Gang of 8), cur- 1953 the union gave them voice, no vote in union Cherny’s talk was followed by Ian Ruskin, the rently have two factions that could be seen in the affairs and the PCPA was officially formed in 1956. actor/playwright who impersonates ILWU found- build up to the Iraq War. Germany and France, the They continue to work on senior and peace issues ing leader Harry Bridges. He performed a segment multi-lateralists, wanted the U.S. to check in with and this year in particular for pro-labor legislation of one of his plays where Bridges tells the story of the gang before moving, but Bush’s faction will act and candidates. the 1934 organizing and strike, bringing a person- alone. Both sides want to dominate the world. Kerry Auvinen was followed by 88-year old Ah Quon al perspective to the bigger historical overview. is with the multi-lateralists, what Fletcher called the McElrath, who with her late husband Bob Then International President Jim Spinosa “velvet-covered steel bat” group, but at least work- McElrath was involved in the ILWU’s organizing in stepped up to put the history and the week’s pre- ers have some space in his scenario. Too often union Hawaii in the 1940s and spent decades working as sentations into perspective. We need to take back leaders in the U.S. don’t speak out against American the Hawaii ILWU’s social worker. She read a cou- our history so we can understand where we need to imperialist foreign policies, Fletcher said, and the go from here, he said. We can’t rest on the 1934 vic- tory, there are many tough battles ahead, like what the union went through in 2002. “The game plan of this union is to never get caught off-guard,” Spinosa said. “We must be look- ing to the future, for the survival of this union and the labor movement.” Next up was Bill Fletcher, formerly special assis- tant to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney (during which time he led the AFL-CIO’s national campaign in support of the Charleston Five), and now presi- dent of TransAfrica Forum, which undertakes edu- cational projects in support of worker rights around the world, particularly in South Africa. Fletcher addressed the issue of labor unity, what it has been and has not been in recent American history. The AFL in the 1930s was a federation of craft unions that refused to organize the new mass production industries. Harry Bridges and other labor leaders started the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) not just to organize the unorganized in these industries, but to create a mass social movement. CIO unions not only raised workers’ living stan- dards, but increased civil liberties, broke down racial and gender barriers and opposed fascism and mili- Bay Area PCPA President and former Coast tarism. Union membership increased dramatically Longshore Local 13 President and Education Committeeman Bill Ward. in the 1930s and early 1940s until the anti-commu- Committee member Dave Arian. nism in the late 1940s and early 1950s reduced unions’ strength, numbers and relevancy. Fletcher laid out some basic strategies to rede- fine “labor unity” in the 21st century. Labor must stop acting like a private club and organize all workers. International solidarity is essential in a globalized economy. Labor must stand against all injustice and build its ranks on the basis of equali- ty and fairness. Then Chuck Mack, Teamsters Western Region Vice President and head of his union’s port truck- ers organizing campaign, noted the long history of the Teamsters and the ILWU working together and said it was to both unions’ advantage to organize the port truckers. If the truckers are not part of the labor movement, they could end up undermining the unions’ wages and conditions. The drivers want to unionize, but under government deregula- tion they are defined as independent contractors and this needs to be overcome. “We’re convinced we can win with the unity we have forged on the waterfront,” Mack said. Professors Margaret Levi and David Olson, of the Harry Bridges Center for Labor Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, made a presenta- tion on union democracy. Olson gave an in-depth International Vice President Bob McEllrath review of how the ILWU has dealt with democratic Organizing Director Peter Olney. September 2004 • 7 : review the past, build the future

labor movement has to change this. International Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams followed Fletcher to re-emphasize his point. “This is a call to conscience,” Adams said. “We spoke out against Vietnam, Korea, apartheid and Iraq, We have been a progressive union, but now we are being called to a bigger challenge.” Tuesday morning President Spinosa, Vice President McEllrath and Coast Committeeman Joe Wenzl gave a PowerPoint presentation on how the Longshore Division works, the different locals and contracts for longshore, clerks and walking bosses, the Coast Committee officer structure and the Coast Committee’s functions in administering the contract with arbitrations with the employers, serving as Trustees of the Pension and Welfare Plan and how the Coast Pro Rata (Longshore Division dues) are administered. Foreman’s Local 91 President and Education Committee member Sanders Robinson gave a power point presentation of the history of walking boss locals in the ILWU. The walking bosses in California, Oregon and along the Columbia River in Washington remained in their local longshore locals until 1947 and the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act. Only those in the Puget Sound had their own local International Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams and Arianna Huffington. in the early years, and it remained an ILA local long after most of the other West Coast locals turned Employers Association, resisted. The 1948 strike ILWU. Under Taft-Hartley employers were not obli- was won and settled with the new employer group, gated to bargain with supervisory personnel. But the PMA, in December, but the clerks didn’t get through strikes and work actions the foremen’s local their first coastwise agreement signed until March in Northern California gained recognition in 1947 1949. Welfare benefits were applied coastwise, but and the Southern California local did so in 1948. By wages and conditions were set on a local level. In 1958 the foremen locals in the Columbia River area 1958 job descriptions and work opportunity rules and the Puget Sound gained recognition as separate were negotiated coastwise and in 1965 Local 34 ILWU locals. started the first transfer of longshore workers to Pensioner Al Perisho, a retired marine clerk clerks. The one-door policy—clerks registration out of Local 63 in Southern California and a former would only come from longshore locals—was estab- International Executive Board member, recounted lished in the 1980s. This close association of long- the history of ILWU clerks. shore workers and clerks is beneficial, Perisho In 1945 clerks from Local 40 (Portland), Local observed, especially now when clerks need the mus- 34 (Bay Area) and Local 63 (Wilmington) met to cle of longshore in the enforcement of clerks’ rights draft their first separate coastwise clerk agreement. under the 2002 contract provision covering the But the then-employer group, the Waterfront introduction on new technology. The unique experience of Hawaii longshore workers was presented in a video on the state’s 1949 longshore strike that was produced by the University of Hawaii’s Center for Labor Education and Research with the cooperation of ILWU Hawaii Local 142. Hawaii longshore workers were making nearly 25 percent less than their West Coast coun- terparts while doing the same work for the same employers. They demanded something a little short Seminar participant Keith Shenklin of Clerk’s Local of equal pay. Still, the employers refused and refused 34. arbitration. As the strike dragged on, the employers hired scabs to work the ships and the governor signed the Dock Seizure Act allowing the state to take over and operate the docks. The union was red- baited and slandered. But the workers held out as the union organized soup kitchens and hunting and fishing committees to feed the workers. After 157 days Bridges negotiated a contract with wage increases and the strike was settled. International Vice President, Hawaii Wesley Furtado said that longshore is the only part of Local 142 that negotiates a statewide contract. Oahu Business Agent Tyrone Tahara acknowl- edged that the West Coast still sets the guidelines for Hawaii longshore bargaining. Frank Kennedy, Secretary of the Vacouver, Foremen’s Local 91 President and Education British Columbia Pensioners Association and long- Committee member Saunders Robinson. time ILWU Canada Secretary-Treasurer, spoke of the Canadian longshore experience. The first attempts to build longshore unions in the early 1900s had little success and the post-WWI strikes were broken, leading to company unions running the docks through the 1920s and early 1930s. In 1934 longshore workers started their own new union and in 1936 they signed a five-year contract with employers. In 1937 the ILWU chartered its first locals in Canada and they grew in the early 1940s. In International Affairs Director Ray Familathe. 1959 the ILWU Canadian Area was established and set out to get all its locals under the same contract weren’t forced to handle diverted cargo. And when and organize all waterfront workers. Since then the the Bay Area warehouse workers settled a month Canadian longshore locals have had more and more before longshore did, the warehouse local voted to government interference in their contract bargain- give money to help those still out. ing, but have continued to make progress. By organizing warehouse, the longshore work- Harvey Schwartz, labor historian, curator of ers took strategic action to protect their flanks and the ILWU’s Oral History Project and author of build union density—the percentage of the indus- “The March Inland,” the definitive book on the try that was unionized. With union density declin- ILWU warehouse origins, told the story of how the ing in the U.S. and especially in the rapidly chang- new West Coast longshore union turned to organ- ing cargo-handling industry, the ILWU needs a izing warehouse workers. They immediately start- similar strategy today, Organizing Director Peter ed organizing waterfront warehouses, but soon Olney said in his presentation. found the only way to protect the wages and condi- “We have reached a point where we will have to tions they had won was to spread them to ware- organize or die,” Olney said. The organizing will houses further inland. When longshore workers need to be done at points along the cargo-handling chain where the ILWU can build leverage, and it Clerk’s Local 63 Secretary and Legislative Action went out on strike in 1936-37, the unionized ware- Committee member Peter Peyton. house workers went out as well to make sure they continued on page 10 8• September 2004 ILWU election endorsements Nov. 2, 2004

President of the : ...... John Kerry 19 ...... No Endorsement 41 ...... Fran Pavley (D) Vice President of the United States: . . .John Edwards 20 ...... Jim Costa (D) 42 ...... Paul Koretz (D) 21 ...... No Endorsement 43 ...... Dario Frommer (D) Oregon endorsements 22 ...... No Endorsement 44 ...... Carol Liu (D) United States Senator: ...... Ron Wyden 23 ...... Lois Capps (D) 45 ...... Jackie Goldberg (D) Representative in Congress 24 ...... Brett Wagner (D) 46 ...... Fabian Nunez (D) 1st District: ...... David Wu 25 ...... Tim Willoughby (D) 47 ...... Karen Bass (D) 3rd District: ...... Earl Blumenauer 26 ...... Cynthia M. Matthews (D) 48 ...... Mark Ridley-Thomas (D) 4th District: ...... Peter DeFazio 27 ...... Brad Sherman (D) 49 ...... Judy Chu (D) 5th District: ...... Darlene Hooley 28 ...... Howard L. Berman (D) 50 ...... Hector de la Torre (D) Statewide Candidates 29 ...... Adam B. Schiff (D) 51 ...... Jerome E. Horton (D) Secretary of State: ...... Bill Bradbury 30 ...... Henry A. Waxman (D) 52 ...... Mervyn M. Dymally (D) State Treasurer: ...... Randall Edwards 31 ...... Xavier Becerra (D) 53 ...... Mike Gordon (D) Attorney General: ...... Hardy Myers 32 ...... Hilda L. Solis (D) 54 ...... Betty Karnette (D) Legislative Candidates 33 ...... Diane E. Watson (D) 55 ...... Jenny Oropeza (D) State Senator, District 1: ...... Bruce Cronk 34 ...... Lucille Roybal-Allard (D) 56 ...... Rudy Bermudez (D) State Senator, District 3: ...... Alan Bates 35 ...... Maxine Waters (D) 57 ...... Ed Chavez (D) State Senator, District 4: ...... Floyd Prozanski 36 ...... Jane Harman (D) 58 ...... Ron Calderon (D) State Senator, District 5: ...... Joanne Verger 37 ...... Juanita Millender-McDonald (D) 59 ...... Dan Harden (D) State Senator, District 12: ...... Hank Franzoni 38 ...... Grace Flores Napolitano (D) 60 ...... Patrick Martinez (D) State Senator, District 14: ...... Ryan Deckert 39 ...... Linda T. Sanchez (D) 61 ...... Gloria Negrete-McLeod (D) State Senator, District 18: ...... Ginny Burdick 40 ...... J. Tilman Williams (D) 62 ...... Joe Baca Jr. (D) State Senator, District 21: ...... Kate Brown 41 ...... No Endorsement 63 ...... No Endorsement State Senator, District 23: ...... Avel Gordly 42 ...... No Endorsement 64 ...... Robert Melsh (D) State Senator, District 25: ...... Laurie Monnes Anderson 43 ...... Joe Baca (D) 65 ...... Rita Ramirez-Dean (D) State Senator, District 27: ...... Ben Westlund 44 ...... Louis Vandenberg (D) 66 ...... Laurel Nicholson (D) State Senator, District 28: ...... Ross Carroll 45 ...... John W. Thomas (D) 67 ...... David Silva (D) State Senator, District 29: ...... David Nelson 46 ...... No endorsement 68 ...... Al Snook (D) State Representative, District 5: ...... Peter Buckley 47 ...... Loretta Sanchez (D) 69 ...... Tom Umberg (D) State Representative, District 6: ...... John Doty 48 ...... No Endorsement 70 ...... Carl Mariz (D) State Representative, District 7: ...... Shirley Cairns 49 ...... Mike Byron (D) 71 ...... Bea Foster (D) State Representative, District 8: ...... Paul Holvey 50 ...... Francine P. Busby (D) 72 ...... Ross W. Johnson (D) State Representative, District 9: ...... Arnie Roblan 51 ...... Bob Filner (D) 73 ...... Kathleen Calzada (D) State Representative, District 10: ...... Jean Cowan 52 ...... No Endorsement 74 ...... Karen R. Underwood (D) State Representative, District 11: ...... Phil Barnhart 53 ...... No Endorsement 75 ...... Karen Heumann (D) State Representative, District 12: ...... E. Terry Beyer 76 ...... Lori Saldana (D) State Representative, District 13: ...... Robert Ackerman California State Senate (District /Candidate) 77 ...... Chris Larkin (D) State Representative, District 14: ...... Bev Ficek 1 ...... Kristine Lang McDonald (D) 78 ...... Patty Davis (D) State Representative, District 15: ...... Wesley Price 3 ...... Carole Migden (D) 79 ...... Juan Vargas (D) State Representative, District 16: ...... Kelley Wirth 5 ...... Michael J. Machado (D) 80 ...... Mary Ann Andreas (D) State Representative, District 18: ...... Jim Gilbert 7 ...... Tom Torlakson (D) State Representative, District 19: ...... Brian Grisham 9 ...... Don Perata (D) Ballot Proposition Recommendations State Representative, District 22: ...... Betty Komp 11 ...... Joe Simitian (D) 1A Protection of Local Gov’t Revenues . .No Recommendation State Representative, District 23: ...... Dick Reynolds 13 ...... Elaine Alquist (D) 59 Access to Government Information ...... YES State Representative, District 27: ...... Mark Hass 15 ...... Margaret A. Pinard (D) 60 Primary Elections (No Open Primaries) ...... YES State Representative, District 28: ...... Jeff Barker 17 ...... Jonathon Daniel Kraut (D) 60A Surplus Property Sales ...... NO State Representative, District 29: ...... Chuck Riley 19 ...... Paul Graber (D) 61 Children’s Hospital Projects ...... YES State Representative, District 31: ...... Betsy Johnson 21 ...... Jack Scott (D) 62 Primary Elections (Open Primaries) ...... NO State Representative, District 32: ...... Deborah Boone 23 ...... Sheila James Kuehl (D) 63 Mental Health Services Expansion and Funding ...... YES State Representative, District 33: ...... Mitch Greenlick 25 ...... Edward Vincent (D) 64 Limitations on Enforcement of Unfair Business Competition Laws State Representative, District 34: ...... Brad Avakian 27 ...... Alan S. Lowenthal (D) ...... NO State Representative, District 35: ...... Larry Galizio 29 ...... No Endorsement 65 Local Government Funding and State Mandates ...... NO State Representative, District 36: ...... Mary Nolan 31 ...... Marjorie Musser Mikels (D) 66 Limitations on “Three Strikes” Law ...... YES State Representative, District 37: ...... Jim Morton 33 ...... Randall Daugherty (D) 67 Telephone Surcharge for Emergency and Medical Services State Representative, District 38: ...... Greg Macpherson 35 ...... Rita Siebert (D) ...... No Recommendation State Representative, District 39: ...... Doug Neeley 37 ...... Pat Johansen (D) 68 Tribal Gaming Compacts (Racetracks & Card Clubs Measure) State Representative, District 40: ...... Dave Hunt 39 ...... Christine Kehoe (D) ...... NO State Representative, District 41: ...... Carolyn Tomei 69 Collection of DNA Samples for State DNA Database ...... NO State Representative, District 42: ...... Diane Rosenbaum California State Assembly (District /Candidate) 70 Tribal Gaming Compacts (Agua Caliente Measure) ...... NO State Representative, District 43: ...... Chip Shields 1 ...... Patty Berg (D) 71 Stem Cell Research and Funding Recommendation ...... NO 72 Referendum Petition to Overturn Amendments to Health State Representative, District 44: ...... Gary Hansen 2 ...... Barbara McIver (D) Care Coverage Requirements (Health Insurance Act of 2003) .YES State Representative, District 45: ...... Jackie Dingfelder 3 ...... Robert A. Woods (D) State Representative, District 46: ...... Steve March 4 ...... Todd W. Schwenk (D) State Representative, District 47: ...... Jeff Merkley 5 ...... Sandra A. Carey (D) Solano County recommendations State Representative, District 48: ...... Mike Schaufler 6 ...... Joseph Edward Nation (D) 7 ...... Noreen Evans (D) Vacaville City Council ...... Charles Dimmick/Steve Wilkins State Representative, District 50: ...... Jim Buck Rio Vista City Council ...... Sam Bhakta/Janice Vick State Representative, District 51: ...... Kathryn Firestone 8 ...... Lois Wolk (D) 9 ...... Dave Jones (D) Suisun City Council ...... Samuel Derting/Mike Segala State Representative, District 54: ...... Judy Stiegler Dixon City Council ...... Mike Smith/Jill Orr State Representative, District 58: ...... Bob Jenson 10 ...... No Endorsement State Representative, District 59: ...... Jack Lorts 11 ...... Joe Canciamilla (D) 12 ...... Leland Y. Yee (D) Napa County recommendations 13 ...... Mark Leno (D) Statewide Ballot Measures American Canyon City Council . . . .Gudy Coffee/Joan Bennett Measure #34—Timber Production/Conservation ...... OPPOSE 14 ...... Loni Hancock (D) Measure #35—Limits Healthcare Negligence Damages OPPOSE 15 ...... Elaine Shaw (D) Measure #37—Pay for Reduced Property Values . . . . .OPPOSE 16 ...... Wilma Chan (D) Sacramento-Yolo Counties Measure #38—Abolishes SAIF ...... OPPOSE 17 ...... Barbara S. Matthews (D) Sacramento County Board of Supervisors .Roberta MacGloshan 18 ...... Johan Klehs (D) W. Sacramento City Counci .Bill Kristoff / Mark Montemayor California endorsements 19 ...... Gene Mullin (D) United States Senator Barbara Boxer (D) 20 ...... Alberto Torrico (D) 21 ...... Ira Ruskin (D) Contra Costa County United States Representatives in Congress (District— 22 ...... Sally J. Lieber (D) Antioch Candidate) 23 ...... Joe Coto (D) Mayor ...... Don Fruetar 1 ...... Mike Thompson (D) 24 ...... Rebecca Cohn (D) City Council ...... Reegie Moore/Brian Kalinowski 2 ...... Mike Johnson (D) 25 ...... No Endorsement 3 ...... Gabe Castillo (D) 26 ...... No Endorsement Concord 4 ...... Bill Kirby (I) 27 ...... John Laird (D) City Council ...... William Shinn/Harmon West 5 ...... Robert T. Matsui (D) 28 ...... Simon Salinas (D) 6 ...... Lynn Woolsey (D) 29 ...... No Endorsement El Cerrito 7 ...... George Miller (D) 30 ...... Nicole M. Parra (D) City Council . . . . .Letitia Moore/Jan Bridges/William Jones 8 ...... Nancy Pelosi (D) 31 ...... Juan Arambula (D) 9 ...... Barbara Lee (D) 32 ...... Marvin Armas (D) Hercules 10 ...... Ellen O. Tauscher (D) 33 ...... Tom Hutchings (D) City Council . . . . .Ed Ballico/Kris Valstad/Charlene Raines 11 ...... Gerald “Jerry” McNerny (D) 34 ...... Maggie Florez (D) 12 ...... Tom Lantos (D) 35 ...... Pedro Nava (D) Martinez 13 ...... Fortney “Pete” Stark (D) 36 ...... No Endorsement Treasurer ...... Carolyn Robinson 14 ...... Anna G. Eshoo (D) 37 ...... Ferial Masry (D) City Council ...... Mark Ross/Janet Kennedy 15 ...... Mike Honda (D) 38 ...... No Endorsement 16 ...... Zoe Lofgren (D) 39 ...... Cindy Montanez (D) Pittsburg 17 ...... Sam Farr (D) 40 ...... Lloyd E. Levine (D) City Council ...... Lou Rostas 18 ...... Dennis A. Cardoza (D) September 2004 • 9

Pleasant Hill Prop L Use of Hotel Tax to Preserve Movie Theaters ...... NO 3rd – House 1: ...... Alex Wood City Council ...... John Hanecak/Sue Angeli Prop N Withdraw US Military Personnal from Iraq ...... YES House 2: ...... Prop O Use of Sales Tax Funds ...... YES Senate: ...... Lisa Brown Pinole Prop AA BART G.O. Bond ...... YES 4th – House 1: ...... James Peck City Council ...... Maria Alegria/Pete Murray House 2: ...... Ed Foote Senate: ...... Tim Hattenburg Richmond Santa Clara County 5th – House 1: ...... Barbara DeMichele City Council ...... Eddrick Osborne/John Marquez/ Measure C Binding Arbitration ...... NO House 2: ...... Jeffrey Griffin ...... Andress Soto/Tony Thurmond Senate: ...... Kathleen Huckabay City of San Jose 6th – House 1: ...... Don Barlow San Pablo Measure S Library and Reading Protection Measure ...... YES House 2: ...... Douglas Dobbins City Council . . .Sharon Brown/Joe Gomes/Leonard McNeil Senate: ...... San Mateo County 7th – House 1: ...... Jack Miller House 2: ...... Bill Hinkle Special Districts Pacifica 8th – House 1: ...... Shirley Hankins* City Council ...... Pete De Jarnart/Cal Hinton BART District #3 ...... Bob Franklin House 2: ...... Jerad Koepp AC Transit At Large District ...... Chris Peeples Senate: ...... John David Daly City AC Transit Ward #1 ...... Joe Wallace 9th – House 2: ...... Eileen Macoll City Council ...... Denise Kelly/Sal Torres CCC Sanitary ...... Marco Menesini Senate: ...... Gail Rowland 10th – House 1: ...... Nancy Conard Menlo Park House 2: ...... Mark Norton City Council ...... Kelly Fergusson/Mike Lambert Initiatives and Bond Measures Senate: ...... Mary Margaret Haugen 11th – House 1: ...... Zack Hudgins Measure BB Parcel Tax for AC Transit ...... YES East Palo Alto House 2: ...... Measure J to Renew 1/2-cent Transit Expansion Tax ...... YES City Council ...... Ruben Abrica Measures A/B/C/D/E/G/H/I/J/M/N/P/Q/R ...... YES Senate: ...... Margarita Prentice 12th – House 1: ...... Tony Zinman Alameda County 13th – House 1: ...... Dale Hubbard BART District #3 ...... Robert Franklin San Joaquin-Calaveras Counties 14th – House 2: ...... Clarence Gipson Calaveras County 16th – House 2: ...... Bill Grant ** AC Transit District #2 Board of Supervisors ...... Steve Wilensky Senate: ...... Mike Hewitt District #2 ...... Christine Zook 17th – House 1: ...... Ilene Ferrell District #4 ...... Dennis Hayashi San Joaquin County House 2: ...... Deb Wallace At Large ...... Chris Peeples District #1 Board of Supervisors ...... Steve Gutierrez Senate: ...... Paul Waadevig 18th – House 1: ...... Pam Brokaw Regional Ballot Measures Stockton House 2: ...... Brian Beecher AA ...... YES Lincoln Unified School Board ...... David Gould Senate: ...... David Seabrook BB ...... YES 19th – House 1: ...... CC ...... YES Humboldt-Del Norte Counties House 2: ...... Brian Blake FF ...... YES Supervisor, Del Norte County ...... Martha McClure Senate: ...... Mark Doumit Supervisor, Del Norte County ...... Leslie McNamer 20th – House 1: ...... Joel Staloch Berkeley Arcata City Council ...... Rob Aberman Senate: ...... Chuck Bojarski Fund Essential Services: J, K L ...... YES Arcata City Council ...... Harmony Groves 21st – House 1: ...... Mary Helen Roberts City Council District #2 ...... Darryl Moore Arcata City Council ...... Michael Machi House 2: ...... Brian Sullivan City Council Dist. #3 (dual) .Maudelle Shirek/Max Anderson Eureka City Council ...... Chris Kerrigan 22nd – House 1: ...... Brendan Williams City Council District #5 ...... Laurie Capitrelli Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District .Kaitlin Sopoci-Belknap House 2: ...... Sam Hunt City Council District #6 ...... Betty Olds Senate: ...... 23rd – House 1: ...... Sherry Appleton Castro Valley Sanitary District Sonoma/Marin Counties House 2: ...... Terrell Ducheane Sanitary District ...... Tim McGowan/Dennis Wacspi Marin Co. Measure A Transportation Tax ...... YES Senate: ...... Phil Rockefeller Judge, Marin Co...... Faye D’Opal 24th – House 1: ...... Kevin Van DeWege Emeryville Supervisor, Marin Co. District #3 ...... Charles McGlashen 25th – House 1: ...... Ron Morris Measure T ...... NO House 2: ...... Dawn Morrell Measure U ...... NO Petaluma Measure K High School Parcel Tax ...... YES Senate: ...... Petaluma City Council ...... Pam Torliatt/ 26th – House 1: ...... Patricia Lantz Alameda ...... Cindy Thomas/Mike O’Brien House 2: ...... Derek Kilmer City Council ...... Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft 27th – House 1: ...... Dennis Flanagan Sebastopol Measure W ...... YES House 2: ...... Pleasanton Sebastopol Measure T, Sales Tax ...... YES Senate: ...... Debbie Regala Mayor ...... Jennifer Hosterman Sebastopol City Council ...... Sam Pierce/Craig Litwin 28th – House 1: ...... Deborah Srail House 2: ...... Tami Green San Leandro Sonoma Measure M, Transit Sales Tax ...... YES Senate: ...... Helen McGovern City Council .Surlene Grant/Tony Santos/Joyce Starosciak 29th – House 1: ...... Steve Conway Santa Rosa Measure O ...... YES House 2: ...... Steve Kirby Santa Rosa City Council ...... Caroline Banuelos/Don Fremont 30th – House 1: ...... Mark Miloscia ...... Taylor/Veronica Jacobi Mayor ...... Bob Wasserman House 2: ...... Joseph Henry Santa Rosa Jr. College Board of Trustees . . .Marsha Vas Dupre City Council ...... Bob Wieckowski 32nd – House 1: ...... 33rd – House 1: ...... Shay Schual-Berke Healdsburg City Council ...... Mike Maguire San Francisco City & County House 2: ...... Dave Upthegrove 34th – House 1: ...... Mendocino Supervisor District #1 ...... Joe Louis Wildman Board of Supervisors House 2: ...... Joe McDermott District 1 ...... Jake McGoldrick Mendocino Supervisor District #2 ...... Richard Shoemaker 35th – House 1: ...... Kathy Haigh District 2 ...... Michela Alioto-Pier House 2: ...... Bill Eickmeyer District 3 ...... Aaron Peskin 36th – House 2: ...... Mary Lou Dickerson District 5 Vote for three in this order: ...... Lisa Feldstein/ Washington State endorsements 37th – House 1: ...... Sharon Tomiko-Santos ...... Robert Haaland/Ross Mirkarimi Senate – ...... Patty Murray House 2: ...... Eric Pettigrew District 7 ...... Vernon Grigg House of Represenatives 38th – House 1: ...... John McCoy District 9 Vote for two in this order: ...... Tom Ammiano/ 1st Dist. – ...... Jay Inslee House 2: ...... Michael Sells ...... Rene Saucedo 2nd Dist. – ...... Rick Larsen Senate: ...... Jean Berkey District 11 Vote for three in this order: ...... Dr. Anita Grear/ 3rd Dist. – ...... Brian Baird 39th – House 1: ...... Joel Selling ...... Jose Medina/Gerardo Sandoval 4th Dist. – ...... Sandy Matheson 5th Dist. – ...... Don Barbieri House 2: ...... Pedro Gonzales Senate: ...... Susanne Olson School Board 6th Dist. – ...... Norm Dicks 40th – Senate: ...... Harriet Spanel Vote for four: Eric Mar/Mark Sanchez/Jill Wynns/Norman Vee 7th Dist. – ...... Jim McDermott 8th Dist. – ...... Dave Ross 41st – House 2: ...... Judy Clibborn Senate: ...... Brian Weinstein BART Board 9th Dist. – ...... Adam Smith 42nd – House 1: ...... Robin Bailey District 7 ...... Lynette Sweet House 2: ...... Kelli Linville District 9 ...... Tom Radulovich STATEWIDE Governor ...... Christine Gregoire 43rd – House 1: ...... Ed Murray House 2: ...... Community College Board Attorney General ...... Deborah Senn 44th – House 1: ...... Hans Dunshee Vote for four: ...... Natalie Berg/Milton Marks III/ Auditor ...... Brian Sonntag House 2: ...... ...... Rodel Rodis/Julio Ramos Insurance Comm...... Mike Kreidler Lands Comm...... Mike Cooper 45th – House 2: ...... Propositions Lt. Governor ...... Brad Owen 46th – House 1: ...... Jim McIntire Prop A Affordable Housing ...... YES Sec. of State ...... Laura Ruderman House 2: ...... Phyllis Kenney Prop B Historical Preservation Bonds ...... YES State Treasurer ...... Mike Murphy 47th – House 1: ...... Geoff Simpson Prop C Health Service System ...... YES Sup’t of Public Instruction ...... no action House 2: ...... Pat Sullivan Prop D Changes to City Charter ...... YES Supreme Ct. Pos. 1 ...... Mary Kay Becker 48th – House 1: ...... Ross Hunter Prop E & Fire Survivor Benefit ...... No Position House 2: ...... Debi Golden Prop F Non-citizen Voting School Board Election ...... YES STATE LEGISLATURE 49th – House 1: ...... Bill Fromhold Prop G Health Plans for City Residents ...... YES House 2: ...... Jim Moeller Prop H Candlestick ...... YES 1st District – House 1: ...... Bob Sump Senate: ...... Prop I Economic Analysis of Legislation ...... NO House 2: ...... Mark Ericks Prop J Sales Tax Increase ...... YES Senate: ...... Rosemary McAuliffe * limited endorsement Prop K Business Tax ...... YES 2nd – House 2: ...... Tom Campbell ** conditional endorsement Senate: ...... Marilyn Rasmussen 10 • September 2004

Review the past, build the future c ontinued from page 7 will have to involve local elected offi- use it and not use it for the good of cers and rank-and-file, he said. the union. Wednesday morning started with a “You have the best and if you discussion of the longshore contract. don’t keep it that way, it’s your fault, Education Committee member Brad no one else’s,” he said. Clark of Local 4 compared the That afternoon gadfly political Mechanization & Modernization commentator and former California agreement to the 2002 contract. What gubernatorial candidate Arianna was revolutionary in 1960 was the Huffington dropped by to encourage changes in cargo handling brought union activists to organize and work to about by containerization and the defeat Bush. While acknowledging not M&M contract negotiated how the new everyone is completely thrilled with work would be done. In 2002 the con- John Kerry as an alternative, she tract worked out changes in informa- advised, “When your house is on fire, it tion and documentation handling is not time to talk about remodeling.” brought about by computer technology. Huffington charmed her audience Local 13 President and Education with her repertoire of one-line Committee member Dave Arian then zingers like “We have to give the (Left to right) Curator of the ILWU Oral History Project, Harvey Schwartz, Local discussed the evolution of the contract Democrats a spine transplant” and 54 President and Chair of the Education Committee Dennis Brueckner, and and how you could tell the history of “George W. Bush has nothing to fear ILWU Hawaii Local 142 former social worker Ah Quon McElrath. the Longshore Division through the except the end of fear itself.” She changes in the contract. He walked the autographed copies of her new book Washington, D.C. lobbying office func- process is so mechanized one hardly participants through the early years of “Fanatics and Fools: The Game Plan tions and a quick summary of the sees a worker involved at all. In job actions on the docks in 1934-1948; for Winning Back America” for par- issues affecting longshore he and his Rotterdam a single robotized UTR through the 1948 strike and Taft- ticipants and sold out all the copies staff have been working on. drives a “train” of five containers along Hartley injunction and the new arbi- she brought. Local 63 Secretary and member of rails. Since this automation hit the tration system that still exists; the big ILWU attorney Rob Remar fol- the Coast Legislative Action Commit- port, the local there has gone from work rule changes brought by con- lowed with an historical overview of tee Peter Peyton presented the 7,000 to 2,000 longshore workers. tainerization and the M&M U.S. labor law. He prefaced his Longshore Division’s campaign strate- Mick Doleman, the Maritime Agreement of 1960; to the introduc- remarks with his usual disclaimer. gy for the November 2004 elections. Union of Australia’s Assistant tion of the new computer technology “The law is not your friend,” Other members of the Legislative National Secretary, and John Mait- framework of the 2002 contract. Remar said. “In the U.S. it is adopted, Action Committee, Lawrence Thi- land, National Secretary of the Then Bill Ward and pensioner Art created, molded and interpreted by beaux (Local 10) and Max Vekich (Local Construction, Forestry, Mining and Almeida recounted personal experi- those in control.” 52), explained the work they have been Energy Union (CFMEU), the ences as officers during and after the Remar explained how workers had doing in Washington, D.C. and where Australian miners union, closed the M&M agreement and the Coast no legal rights to bargain collectively the union needs to go in the immediate event talking about international soli- Committee, Spinosa, McEllrath, until the National Labor Relations Act future with its lobbying work. darity and near future plans for it. Wenzl and Ray Ortiz, Jr. commented was passed in 1935. This led to an Ah Quon McElrath followed up the Doleman recounted how the ILWU on the 2002 contract. explosion of union organizing in the next morning with lessons from the helped out the MUA in 1998 by refus- Local 54 President and chair of U.S. But after WWII and the defeat of ILWU’s political work in Hawaii, ing to work a scab-loaded ship, the the Education Committee Dennis fascism in Europe and Asia, the 1947 always following the adage of reward- Columbus Canada, which came to the Brueckner told the story of how the Republican Congress brought the first ing your friends and punishing your Port of LA when the Australian gov- ILWU took the inadequate safety stan- moves in that direction to the U.S. enemies. Union organizers registered ernment and employers locked out the dards on docks before 1934 and turned with the passage of the Taft-Hartley workers to vote in the plantation wharfies there. Likewise, the MUA them into a collectively bargained doc- Act that restricted many of the rights camps, elected their own representa- supported the ILWU throughout 2002 ument that evolved into the Pacific workers had won in the 1930s. Along tives and then pushed through legisla- when the employers in collusion with Coast Marine Safety Code. It has been with the anti-communism of the time, tion for their causes. They passed laws the Bush government locked out and continues to be changed to reflect militant unions were targeted and the legalizing union organizing for agricul- ILWU longshore workers. the changing working place. labor movement declined. tural workers, raising the minimum Maitland said that miners and Coast Arbitrator John Kagel, son The harassment continues as wit- wage and instituting temporary work- dockers have long been the vanguard of the original Coast Arbitrator, Sam nessed by Bush’s intervention into the ers disability and prepaid health care. of the labor movement and have an Kagel, who held the position from 2002 longshore bargaining, the Patriot “We have to let the politicians industrial connection since a billion 1948-2002, impressed upon the par- Act of 2001 requiring background know what we want or we’ll get stuck tons of mined products are transport- ticipants the importance and value of checks on certain transportation with Democrats who act like ed every year, the vast majority by the longshore contract. workers and the new Maritime Trans- Republicans,” she said. ship. The two Australian unions host- “Two guys got killed and a whole portation Security Act setting out dra- Peter Turnbull, a professor at the ed a Maritime and Miners Conference city had to shut down to get your con- conian restrictions on activities in University of Cardiff who specializes in 2002 to develop strategies to deal tract,” Kagel said. “You should know ports that “interfere with commerce.” in longshore labor relations, addressed with the giant global corporations that what’s in it in detail.” ILWU Legislative Director Lind- historic trends in international ports are their employers and the ILWU will Kagel explained the grievance say McLaughlin gave a Powerpoint and longshore unions. Longshore host the next such conference in and arbitration procedure and how to presentation on how the union’s work in the early 20th century was Southern California in May 2005. casual work, with shape-ups, low pay Maitland noted that this year and dangerous conditions. Unioniza- marked the 20th anniversary of when tion and government regulation hap- British Prime Minister Margaret Advanced LEAD Institute pened in many places during the 1930s Thatcher busted the country’s miners International Secretary Treasurer William Adams is announcing the first and 1940s. When containerization hit strike and union. ILWU Advanced Leadership Education and Development Institute (LEAD III) the industry, many docker unions “Thatcher and Reagan worked entered into “productivity bargaining” together to try to destroy the world to be held in Palm Springs, Calif., Jan. 31-Feb. 4, 2005. like the ILWU did with the M&M union movement,” Maitland said. The curriculum will focus on collective bargaining, from the nuts and agreement, making deals for higher “They’re both gone and we’re still bolts of developing contract proposals and hammering out an agreement at wages, benefits and pensions, as well here.” the table, to ILWU principles of rank-and-file control of the process and mem- as for training on the new machines One measure of the conference’s bership mobilization in defense of the union. Presentations will include labor and getting various income protection success was that nearly 100 partici- laws affecting collective bargaining and an examination of how today’s eco- plans. pants chose to stay over an additional nomic and political environment affects ILWU negotiations. Now world ports are going day to take part in an expanded meet- Instructors will be drawn from the ranks of active and retired members as through a deregulation restructuring ing of the Education Committee to well as staff from the International, the AFL-CIO, and the Federal Mediation that is consolidating the industry, discuss how to take the information and Conciliation Service. with five companies moving 40 per- and materials they received in Palm Application will be made to the Titled Officers, who may seek input from cent of international cargo. These Springs and put them to use in edu- companies want to eliminate unions cating and mobilizing other members the applicant’s local union. In addition, the local union may nominate partici- and hiring halls, leaving them a core back home. pants, who will also be required to fill out the LEAD application. For reasons of of highly skilled steady workers, a space and diversity, we anticipate having to limit each affiliate to two partici- pool of casual workers to use as need- The Longshore History and pants, but we will create a waiting list in case of cancellations or non-partici- ed and the “flexibility” to assign Traditions Conference was developed pation by any locals. Applications and registration forms have been sent to shifts and make work rules that suit and produced by the Coast Education each Local and IBU Region by fax and mail, and are available on the ILWU their profitability. And their power is Committee (chair, Dennis Brueckner, website (www.ilwu.org). growing as globalization makes the Local 54; Dave Arian, Local 13; Brad Participation will be limited to a maximum of 75 members of the ILWU shipping industry more essential Clark, Local 4; Saunders Robinson, and the IBU who have also been active in their ILWU local or IBU region as than ever to the world economy. Local 91; Darren Williams, Local 7; Al committee members, stewards, trustees, executive board members, officers, ILWU International Affairs Direc- Perisho, PCPA; Art Almeida, PCPA or caucus and convention delegates. Priority consideration will be given to tor Ray Familathe added that long- and coordinated by ILWU Director of shore workers should be apprehensive Educational Services and Librarian members who have participated in either of the previous LEAD programs about these tendencies. Gene Vrana. (1998 and 2002), and served (or are about to serve) on an ILWU contract “I call ‘flexibility’ the ‘F-word,’” negotiating committee. Familathe said, “because you will Many of the presentations made at Completed applications must be returned by fax or mail by Dec. 3 2004 get…” the History and Traditions Conference to: LEAD Applications, c/o William Adams, ILWU Secretary-Treasurer, 1188 Familathe showed a film about are available on the ILWU’s web site Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 (Fax: 415-775-1302). longshore work at modern mega-ports at http://www.ilwu.org/longshore/his- like Singapore and Rotterdam. The torytraditionsconf.cfm September 2004 • 11

Brother Jerry Martin killed in car wreck LWU International Represen- Oregon to be there. tative Jerry Martin died suddenly “He drove all over for us,” Gun- Iin a car wreck Sept. 15. He was 57. ther said. “He always had our backs.” When Martin was born, his fami- Longshore Local 4 President Brad ly lived in a one-room house his dad Clark and Vice President Cager helped build on Grace Street in Clabaugh flew down from Vancouver, Fresno. A half-century later, Grace Wash. to pay their respects to the man Street still has not been paved. who’d rescued their effort to organize Chickens flap next to the small hous- auto detailers four and a half years es and trailers squatting under the ago. flat San Joaquin Valley sky. “Jerry would be in the hall every “Jerry never forgot where he came morning, making signs, talking with from,” said ILWU International Or- people, working out what had to hap- ganizing Director Peter Olney. “He pen next,” Clabaugh said. “He was a multi-faceted man whose showed up, saved our drive, and made achievements became all the more a huge difference in the lives of those amazing when you looked at his 65 workers.” roots.” Others at the memorial echoed Martin’s dad, a heavy-equipment that point. People who worked with operator, walked out on the family Martin knew him as careful with when Jerry was about 10. His mom details and rock-solid reliable. You had already been in and out of the could count on him to take care of hospital for years with nervous business, whether that was schlep- breakdowns. They lived with his ping sound equipment or leafleting at grandmother in Fresno’s tight-knit 5 a.m. in the rain or negotiating with Portuguese neighborhood, A Cidade. a recalcitrant employer. When she could, his mom worked as a “Here he was an organizer, but he maid in local motels and later in fruit looked like one of us, acted like one of packing houses. Martin got a paper us, felt like one of us,” warehouse route when he was just a kid and Local 17 Secretary-Treasurer Jack never quit working after that. He Wyatt said. “He’d do whatever, and worked all the way through high he had that warmth about him, that school and went out for track too, quality. He’d bring things out of you acing sprints and hurdles. He gradu- that you didn’t know you had in you.” ated from Roosevelt High in 1965. On house calls, talking to poten- A music teacher gave Martin a Jerry Martin tial new members, Martin could win plastic flute to play towards the end of over the most skeptical by just telling fourth grade. He showed enough chops his own story in his typical low-key to be chosen for more lessons—and so of conducting experience, but he always make a living from their art, so manner. began 40 years of making music. He learned on the job,” she said. “He did Martin worked first as an auto-body “People believed him because played trumpet, French horn and gui- that all through his life.” rust-proofer and then as a hotel main- they knew he’d been there,” attorney tar, majoring in music at Fresno City Martin also drew high-powered tenance painter. In 1981 he landed a Bill Carder said. College and then at Fresno State. musicians to come play with symphony, gig with the El Dorado Resort, which If you worked with Martin you After college he moved to San which then was a community orchestra was organized by ILWU Local 142. also knew his quirky side—how he Francisco and then to Maui, looking with no auditions required. “People Soon his co-workers elected him shop showed up for work at 5 a.m. when he for a better place than the wild and would be coming to Honolulu and he steward, then unit chair. The local couldn’t sleep, used feng shui to crazy City by the Bay to raise his would get them to come over here too,” tapped him to do some organizing on arrange his office and did biofeedback young daughter. Starting in 1978 he Owen said. “He was so charismatic he lost-time, then brought him on staff in to help calm his sky-high blood-pres- played first chair French horn in the just talked them into it.” 1991 when new hotels were popping sure. He wasn’t one to brag on him- newly formed Maui Symphony. In Owen played with Martin in up all over Hawaii. Martin helped self, though. Until you knew him for a 1986, the Symphony chose him as its other ensembles as well, including organize the Maui Prince, the Ritz- while, you wouldn’t know he’d con- music director and conductor. the Original Sandwich Isles Swing Carleton, the Grand Wailea and other ducted a symphony. Maybe you’d find “He was an amazing French horn Band and the Valley Isles Brass properties before moving back to the out he’d been a hurdler, stared down player who could’ve made it in a Quintet, and the two toured Maui mainland in 1997. an armed robber at an all-night gas major orchestra,” said Lisa Owen, with the “Artists in the Schools” pro- “His whole heart was in organiz- station or remodeled the bathroom in who was the Maui Symphony’s prin- gram, demonstrating brass instru- ing,” said Local 142 Business Agent the house in Benicia that was his cipal tuba player. “He hadn’t had a lot ments to children of all ages. Jerrybeth Demello, who was unit pride and joy. You were more likely to Even gifted music directors can’t chair at the Westin Maui when hear about his wife and daughter, Jan Martin worked for the El Dorado. and Jennifer, who lit his life, or get a “He would take it very hard when he dryly funny story—or have him ask lost, because he worked so hard.” you how you were doing, or what you While most people would buy food thought about whatever he was work- for a meeting, Martin would cook up ing on at the time. a big pot of Portuguese bean soup or “Despite having many more years some other dish. “He wanted people of experience than me, he always to have the experience of good food treated my ideas with great enthusi- and get into the motion of the discus- asm,” former ILWU Columbia River sion,” Demello said. Organizer Vanessa Veselka wrote. “No matter who he was talking “He was one of the hardest-working to—what nationality, what race, what and humblest men I’ve known.” religion—he could relate to them and Martin’s San Francisco memorial explain what unionism is,” said Local ended with everyone in the room on 142 Maui Division Director Willie their feet, singing all six verses of Kennison. “Solidarity Forever.” Hawaii’s mix of cultures made “His life’s goal was to make a bet- this flexibility essential, Kennison ter world for all of us,” Jan Martin said, but it also helped Martin in his wrote later in a letter she sent to the job as an International organizer. He ILWU. “If you ever hear a voice over worked on drives with all kinds of your shoulder, telling you to keep on workers and all divisions of the union keepin’ on when you don’t believe it’s up and down the Coast—bicycle mes- possible, know that Jerry Martin is sengers and telefundraisers, ware- still on your side.” house workers and barge operators, –Marcy Rein office clericals and workers at an inter-modal yard. Many people Martin helped organ- Martin’s family has requested that ize came to the memorial the union contributions in his memory go to held for him Sept. 22, as did several America Coming Together, a group dozen ILWU officers and rank-and-fil- that is mobilizing to send volunteers to ers, co-workers and friends. Barbara swing states to defeat Bush. You can Gunther, a driver who worked with send checks to ACT at 1120 Jerry Martin (right) played a key part in the effort to organize bike messengers Martin on several San Francisco mes- Connecticut Ave. NW, Suite 1120, and drivers in San Francisco. Here he joins UltraEx workers on a picket line senger campaigns before she moved Washington, D.C., 20036, or visit them during their campaign for a first contract with warehouse Local 6. away, drove all night from Eugene, on line at www.actforvictory.org. 12 • September 2004

ILWU Book & Video Sale

Books and videos about the ILWU are available from the ORDER BY MAIL union’s library at discounted prices! BOOKS: ___ copies of ILWU Story@ $7 ea. = $______copies of The Big Strike @ $6.50 ea. = $_____ The ILWU Story: unrolls the history of the union from its origins to the present, complete with recollections from the men and women who built the union, in their own words, ___ copies of Workers on the Waterfront @ $16 ea. = $_____ and dozens of rare photos of the union in action. $7.00 ___ copies of The Union Makes Us Strong@ $15 ea. = $_____ The Big Strike By Mike Quin: the classic partisan account of the 1934 strike. $6.50 Workers on the Waterfront: Seamen, Longshoremen, and Unionism in the 1930s ___ copies of A Terrible Anger @ $16.50 ea.= $_____ By Bruce Nelson: the most complete history of the origins, meaning, and impact of the ___ copies of We Are the ILWU @ $5 ea. = $_____ 1934 strike. $13.00 The Union Makes Us Strong: Radical Unionism on the San Francisco Waterfront By ___ copies of Life on the Beam@ $28 ea. = $_____ David Wellman: the important new study of longshoring in the ILWU. $15.00 (paper- ___ copies of The March Inland @ $9 ea.= $_____ back) A Terrible Anger: The 1934 Waterfront and General Strike in San Francisco By Total Enclosed $_____ David Selvin: the newest and best single narrative history about the San Francisco events of 1934. $16.50 No sales outside the U.S. The March Inland: Origins of the ILWU Warehouse Division 1934-1938 By Harvey Schwartz: new edition of the only comprehensive account of the union’s organizing cam- paign in the northern California warehouse and distribution industry. $9.00 Name______

Street Address or PO Box ______VIDEOS: A 30-minute color video introducing the principles and traditions of the We Are the ILWU City ______State______Zip______ILWU. Features active and retired members talking about what the union meant in their lives and what it needs to survive and thrive, along with film clips, historical photos and an original musical score. $5.00 Make check or money order (U.S. Funds) Life on the Beam: A Memorial to Harry Bridges A 17-minute VHS video production by payable to “ILWU” and send to California Working Group, Inc., memorializes Harry Bridges through still photographs, ILWU Library, 1188 Franklin Street, San Francisco, recorded interviews, and reminiscences. Originally produced for the 1990 memorial serv- CA 94109 ice in San Francisco. $28.00 Prices include shipping and handling. Please allow at least four weeks for delivery. Shipment to U.S. addresses only

A Helping Hand...

...when you need it most. That’s what we’re all about. We are the representatives of the ILWU-sponsored recovery programs. We provide professional and confidential assistance to you and your family for alco- holism, drug abuse and other problems— and we’re just a phone call away.

ILWU LONGSHORE DIVISION

ADRP—Southern California ADRP—Oregon Jackie Cummings Jim Copp Bound Dispatchers for sale 870 West Ninth St. #201 3054 N.E. Glisan, Ste. 2 2003 Edition Now Available! San Pedro, CA 90731 Portland, OR 97232 (310) 547-9966 (503) 231-4882 Beautiful, hardcover collections of The Dispatcher for 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 are now available. ADRP—Northern California ADRP—Washington These are a must for Locals and individuals keeping a Norm McLeod Donnie Schwendeman 400 North Point 506 Second Ave., Rm. 1012 record of the union’s activities. Get your copies of the San Francisco, CA 94133 Seattle, WA 98104 ILWU’s award-winning newspaper while the limited supply (415) 776-8363 (206) 621-1038 lasts. Send a check for $50.00 for each volume (year) to The Dispatcher at: ILWU WAREHOUSE DIVISION ILWU CANADA DARE—Northern California EAP—British Columbia Bound Dispatchers Gary Atkinson Ted Grewcutt 22693 Hesperian Blvd., Ste. 277 745 Clark Drive, Suite 205 c/o The Dispatcher Hayward, CA 94541 Vancouver, BC V5L 3J3 1188 Franklin Street, 4th Floor (800) 772-8288 (604) 254-7911 San Francisco, CA 94109