www.ilwu.org THE INSIDENEWS TRANSITIONS BOOKS &VIDEOS American LaborActivists Struggle byFilipino Recounts ACenturyof Union ByLaw:NewBook celebrate Juneteenth Local 19members Richard Trumka passes AFL-CIO President win unioninTacoma Maritime fuelworkers Angela Davis made an honorary AngelaDavismadeanhonorary member ofLocal10 Published by the International LongshorePublished bytheInternational andWarehouse Union

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Postmaster: Send address changes to The Dispatcher, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94109-6800. (left) andILWUInternationalVicePresident(Mainland)BobbyOlvera,Jr. Parker andJohnKnudsenduringthe1934waterfrontstrike.AlsopicturedareLocal13memberChristian“C-Dog”Abito Graveside memorial: T during thepandemic. ing restrictions on gatherings amidst uncertainties and chang - Thursday inavarietyofways berg, a seaman killed in Hong Kong. berg, aseamankilledinHong Kong. Connor inPortlandandBruce Lind- Pedro, Shelvy Daffron inSeattle,James Parker and John Knudsen in San and Sperry in San Francisco, Dickie honor thesacrificesmadebyBordoise victory. Bloody Thursday is a time to serves asacelebrationofthestrike’s the WestCoastduringstrikeand all six workers who were killed along The dayisalsoatimetoremember led totheformationofILWU. wise laborstrugglethateventually the turningpointof1934coast- strike in San Francisco and marked Strike. Thekillingssparkedageneral 1934 duringtheGreatWestCoast police inSanFranciscoonJuly5th, and HowardSperrywhowereshotby sary of the killings of Nick Bordoise Bloody Thursdayistheanniver- tinued to honor Bloody tinued tohonorBloody along theWestCoastcon- his yearILWUlocals Bloody Thursdayin uncertain times Local 13 President Ramon Ponce De Leon (center) remembers the sacrifices made by Dickie Honoring

mit foraneventatSanPedro’s Peck officials grantedalast minute per- Bloody Thursdaypicnic after local 13, 63and94sawthereturnof Southern California fair hourlywage. tions; andasix-hourworkdaywith the same protected hours and condi- same basicwagesandworkingunder ers onthePacificCoastreceiving coastwise contract,withallwork- and equalizeworkopportunities;a crimination andfavoritisminhiring hall thatwouldendallformsofdis- included a union-controlled hiring and SanDiego.Thestrikedemands Portland, SanFrancisco,Pedro, the major ports of Seattle, Tacoma, 2000 milesofcoastline,including struck, shuttingdowndocksalong when WestCoastlongshoreworkers conditions onthewaterfront. gled andfoughttoimprovewages of longshoreworkerswhohavestrug- of thesacrificesmadebygenerations The dayisalsoatimetoreflectonall

In SouthernCalifornia,Locals The strikebeganonMay9,1934 DISPATCHER •JULY/AUGUST 2021 •1 VOL 79,NO7•JULY/AUGUST 2021 confrontations onthedocks thatyear ton. Itwasthefirstofseveral deadly 15, 1934 at Berth 145 in Wilming- goons shortlyaftermidnightonMay members, bycompany-employed shot, alongwithfiveotherunion of the1934strike,areburied. John Knudsen,thefirsttwomartyrs Dickie ParkerandLomitaresident where SanPedroHighgraduate at RooseveltCemeteryinGardena with agravesidememorialservice important partoftheday--started Honoring theFirstBloodMartyrs many times.” in place because we’ve done this so for the picnic already organized and vendor listsandotherthingsneeded Seixas. “Luckilywealreadyhadthe 13 ExecutiveBoardmemberJohn to make this happen,” said Local “Everyone reallycametogether planned inweeksinsteadofmonths. in ashorttimeframe.Theeventwas Park. Volunteersplannedtheevent Parker and Knudsen were both The first–andsomesaymost continued onpage4 Maritime fuel workers win union in Tacoma supply chain perations and Mainte- “When managers refused to pro- nance Technicians in vide requisite trainings or follow the Port of Tacoma, protocols,” added Israel, “we knew it O was time to confront the situation.” and failed to take meaningful action, While the company did not who will produce Liquefied Upon realizing the employer workers were subsequently hit hard agree to voluntarily recognize work- Natural Gas to fuel TOTE depends on union labor in the mari- by a COVID outbreak at the plant. ers, NAES clearly saw overwhelm- Maritime ships, fought to be time supply chain, workers launched After weeks of sickness and slow ing unity when all but one employee union and won an election in a campaign through IBU and ILWU recovery, technicians were further signed on the petition, and realized they had little chance of dragging out August at NAES Corporation earlier this year at NAES, which runs met with news that the plant man- ager—not workers—had invited the hearing process when workers to become new members of the the operation in the Port of Tacoma to fuel TOTE vessels with natural gas. a different union in to meet with quickly filed for an election. Instead, Inlandboatmen’s Union of the the company stipulated, agreeing to TOTE’s parent company employees, in a clear attempt to the appropriate unit of technicians Pacific (IBU), the Marine Divi- Saltchuk also owns Foss Maritime, divert employees into a sweetheart eligible to vote in an election. sion of the ILWU. where for years IBU members have deal management could control. “We are really excited to have worked on tugs and barges trans- Instead of taking the bait, tech- After receiving a ballot in the joined together for respect and a porting fuel, while ILWU Local 23 nicians demanded equal access on mail over the following weeks, voice on the job,” said Israel Lopez, members have loaded TOTE’s ships the job for a worker-run union meet- almost every single technician came one of the O&M techs. “We know at the Port for decades. ing in June, and took over a room in together again, donning an IBU shirt, flashing a thumbs up, and taking a our strength comes from having each “As we thought about how we the plant with leaders from IBU and picture to leave no question in man- other’s backs and solidarity from could win our fight at NAES,” said ILWU Local 23 to discuss a strong agers’ heads as to how tightly work- members in other operations con- technician Tim Coto, “it just made path forward. ers are unified at NAES. nected to this one.” sense we would go union and join “Workers made it clear it was O&M techs were recruited by with other IBU/ILWU workers able to time to move, and almost everyone On August 6, the National Labor NAES from all over the country to affect operations when the employer quickly signed on to be IBU after Relations Board counted the ballots relocate to Puget Sound, help com- violates our rights.” the meeting,” said IBU President Jay and certified the new union as IBU, with over 90 percent support. mission the plant and begin to oper- O&M techs marched on the Ubelhart. “We all got on the same ate the facility. Within a short time, plant manager to demand a response page about supply chain power “Our union collaboration as a workers began to realize managers and an end to negligence. After and the industrial links connecting team with better communication will lacked experience, expertise and the upper management held a dam- this facility.” make NAES safer,” said Burt Zook, ability to listen to employee concerns. age control meeting with employees “We shared our history with one of the technicians. TOTE and our members’ commit- “We’re thrilled to win this vote ment to solidarity,” said ILWU and ready to push right away for a Local 23 President Jared Faker. good union contract,” added Jon “People really understood this Enimpah, one of the technicians. “It’s employer needs smooth maritime time we hold management account- and longshore operations in order able and nail down fair rules for to function.” everyone.” Photo by: Tove Holmberg CORRECTION Rally for workers’ rights: On August 10th, ILWU Local 5 organized a rally Due to a layout mistake in the center spread of the June Dispatcher, to show support for the workers in the Portland area who are fighting for a union, a portion of the Local 13 Convention delegation was accidently cov- a contract, or like Powell’s workers, fighting to defend their hard-won contracts. Workers shared stories about their labor struggles at the event, which was followed ered. As a result, Convention Delegate Mondo Porras (left) did not by an action at Powell’s City of Books where community members rallied to defend appear in the collage of the delegates. We apologize for the error. the recall rights of Powell’s workers who were laid off during the COVID-19 shut- down. In the photo Local 5 representative Myka Dubay addresses the rally.

ILWU TITLED OFFICERS The Dispatcher (ISSN 0012-3765) is published monthly except for a combined July/Aug issue, for William E. Adams, President $5.00 a year and $10.00 a year for non-members by the ILWU, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, Roy San Filippo CA 94109. Periodical postage paid at San Francisco, CA. The Dispatcher welcomes letters, Communications Director Bobby Olvera, Jr., Vice President, Mainland photos and other submissions to the above address © ILWU, 2012. Postmaster: Send address Edwin Ferris, Secretary-Treasurer changes to The Dispatcher, 1188 Franklin St., San Francisco, CA 94109-6800.

2 DISPATCHER • JULY/AUGUST 2021 IN MEMORIAM AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka passes away at the age of 72 FL-CIO President Rich- attempt to force concessions from ard Trumka passed away workers and pull out of the industry- on August 5th at the age wide pension and health care funds. A In 1995, Trumka was elected AFL- of 72 after a lifetime of dedica- CIO Secretary-Treasurer on the “New tion to the labor movement. He Voices” slate that emphasized the need was the son of a mine worker to organize new union members and and he followed in his father’s push unions to devote 30 percent of footsteps working in the mines their budgets to organizing. of Western Pennsylvania to put During Trumka’s tenure as head himself through school. of the AFL-CIO, the labor movement took more progressive positions on a After becoming a labor attorney, host of issues including immigration 2002 Negotiating Committee: Richard Trumka (front row, center) with Trumka returned to Pennsylvania and and racial justice. After the police kill- the 2002 Negotiating Committee. Photo from the December 2002 issues of the Dispatcher. dedicate his life to fighting for the peo- ing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, ple he grew up around and the people Missouri, the AFL-CIO formed a Com- to thank you for inviting me to be a sylvania. He was a labor warrior with he worked with in the mines. mission on Racial and Economic Jus- part of this great union, this wonder- an unwavering commitment to uplift- At the age of 33, Trumka was tice to encourage unions to tackle the ful family, for what turned out to be ing all workers, improving workplace elected President of the United Mine reality of racism in American life. one of the most incredible and satisfy- safety, and fighting to ensure that work- Workers as part of a rank-and-file During the 2002 lockout of ILWU ing experiences that I have ever had in ers have a voice on the job,” said ILWU reform slate. longshore workers by the Pacific Mari- my career,” he said to the Caucus dele- International President Willie Adams. He made his mark as a labor leader time Association, Trumka, then AFL- gates. “I will carry the memories of this “We will honor his legacy by continu- during the nine-month Pittston Coal CIO Secretary-Treasurer, sat in on the struggle with me for the rest of my life.” ing to organize the unorganized, and strike in 1989. The UMW utilized last six weeks of bargaining. Following “Richard Trumka’s working-class fight to win passage of the PRO Act and direct action tactics and civil disobedi- negotiations, he was invited to address values and commitment to organized President Biden’s infrastructure pack- ence to successfully beat back Pittston’s the Coast Longshore Caucus. “I want labor were forged in the mines of Penn- age. Rest in power, Rich.” Angela Davis made an honorary member of Local 10 in Juneteenth induction ceremony n Juneteenth, ILWU for his support of sugar cane workers in was especially sweet since Juneteenth Local 10 honored civil Hawaii who were organizing and join- was finally recognized as a federal holi- ing the ILWU to improve working con- day—the first national holiday to com- rights icon, scholar, ac- O ditions. Illustrator Rockwell Kent who memorate the end of slavery in the tivist, and public intellectual, was granted an honorary membership United States. Angela Davis by making her an at the same time, illustrated the first Drill Team honorary member of the local. issue of The Dispatcher in December The Local 10 Drill Team escorted Davis joins Dr. Martin Luther King, 1942 and remained an ILWU supporter his entire life. Davis into the hall. The Drill Team then Jr. as an honorary member of Local 10 performed to the delight of the approx- as well as performer Paul Robeson and Juneteenth celebration imately 300 people in attendance. illustrator Rockwell Kent who were The induction ceremony for Angela Local 10 President Trent Willis both made honorary members of the Davis and Juneteenth celebration took welcomed everyone to the event and ILWU during the 1943 International place at the Local 10 hall. June 19th, acknowledged ILWU International Convention. also known as Emancipation Day and President Willie Adams, International Robeson was unanimously granted Freedom Day as well as Juneteenth, Secretary-Treasurer Ed Ferris and a lifetime honorary ILWU membership has been celebrated by African-Amer- Coast Committeeman Cam Williams Juneteenth induction: Angela for his “steadfast devotion and service icans as a holiday since the late 1800s. who were all in attendance. Davis was inducted into Local 10 as an to the cause of democracy and to the It commemorates the end of slavery in Local 10 Drill Team member Janice honorary member during a special June- economic and cultural advancement of teenth meeting and celebration at the America and the ongoing struggle for Smith kicked off the event with a stun- Local 10 hall. all peoples.” He was especially honored Black freedom. This year’s celebration continued on page 6 Supply chain disruption gets the goods at P&B Intermodal fter a strike that paralyzed the strike, P&B Intermodal gave in and cargo operations and se- formally recognized them as ILWU. cured union recognition, Soon after, P&B workers Levi A Kamel, Thierry Williams, and Ethan workers at P&B Intermodal in the Hanna-McCormack joined Local 23 Port of Tacoma won a first con- President Jared Faker and the local’s June, workers unanimously ratified the While most first contracts make tract in less than five months— Labor Relations Committee, including contract, which took effect in July. gains, workers used job action and sup- and fundamentally changed the Arturo Guajardo, Melanie Bowers, Jer- But even more telling than the ply chain solidarity to entirely trans- employer’s business model. emy Kamel, Don Faker, Ryan Whitman, timeline was the substance of the agree- form P&B Intermodal’s operation in the Jed DiMaggio, and Joe Perrin in bar- ment: workers doubled the hourly Port of Tacoma. When worker Heat was In January, strong solidarity from gaining a first contract. wage rate, moving from 18.50 to 37.50. backed by the union Hammer, a sweat- ILWU Local 23 meant that P&B Inter- Previously unaffordable and mostly shop cutting every corner was forced modal workers could use their posi- The urgency confronting the unused health care was replaced with to become a union shop, meeting area tion in the cargo chain to take decisive employer as a result of the supply-chain 100 percent employer-paid plan pre- standards with enforceable protections job action. When employees walked disruption quickly became evident. miums. And from having no retirement for workers’ rights on the job—a clear off the job over company violations of Over just six bargaining sessions, P&B other than an optional 401(k) savings example of what can be won when federal law, Local 23 members refused Intermodal execs moved from remote, plan, workers won a new, employer- members use our power in the cargo to cross the picket line, bringing the out-of-state Zoom meetings to flying paid, defined-benefit pension plan, chain where we have it, while we have it. union “hammer” to match the workers’ into Tacoma to finish negotiations and with starting accrual rate of 9.50 “heat.” Six hours after workers ended sign a collective bargaining agreement. – Jon Brier Upon reaching a tentative agreement in per hour. DISPATCHER • JULY/AUGUST 2021 3 Honoring Bloody Thursday in uncertain times

Local 13 President Ramon Ponce De Leon painted at in-depth picture of the years leading up to the water- front strike—an era of great economic inequality and uncertainty for the working class in the midst of the Great Depression. “These men fought for a better life, a decent life with quality of work, for working conditions and for respect. We should never forget these two men, Dickie Parker and John Knudsen. Never forget them.” Local 94 President Danny Miranda spoke about the upcoming contract longshore negotiations with the Paci- fica Maritime Association next year. “We’ve got a big challenge coming up. But every contract is a challenge,” Miranda said. “You can ask all the old timers about the challenges we’ve faced. We want to think about what we have been through and understand how we got where we are. Who built this union? Everybody sitting around here right now—the rank-and-file. That’s our history. We’ve got a chal- lenge ahead. Do we fear that chal- lenge? No! We’re going to stand like they stood. Because one thing about us, you mess with one of us, you mess with all of us.” Pacific Coast Pensioner President Greg Mitre was the final speaker. He reminded everyone about the record profits shipping companies have been making over the last year and that those profits were made because of ILWU labor. Puget sound memorial: Seattle-area ILWU Locals and pensioners gathered to honor Bloody Thursday with a wreath- laying ceremony at the cruise ship terminal followed by a memorial event at the gravesite of 1934 strike martyr Shelvy Daffron Procession who was shot in the back on the evening of June 30th while checking on a rumor that non-union crews were about to sail two oil tankers in Point Wells just north of Seattle. At 10:30, engines roared to life in the classics cars, cruisers, hot-rods and continued from page 1 Remembering the past, fighting ILWU family that lost their lives to the Harleys that slowly pulled out of Memo- between strikers and strikebreakers for the future pandemic and reminded everyone of rial Park behind a symbolic hearse pro- that involved the employer’s use of Local 13 member Christian ongoing struggles with employers. vided by All Soul’s Mortuary in Long armed private guards or police. Parker “C-Dog” Abito was the emcee at the “As we head into longshore nego- Beach. The mock funeral procession died on the way to the hospital while memorial event this year. He called tiations, we’ve got a fight ahead of us,” the made its way through a ten-mile Knudsen held-on for weeks before together the 100 attendees together at Olvera said.” And today, as I stand trek south to San Pedro, passing by the dying of his wounds. Public response 9 a.m. and thanked everyone in atten- here, we’ve got members up in Fresno Harry Brides bust on Harbor Boulevard to the killing of both men was impres- dance. Pacific Coast Pension Poet Lau- from our warehouse division who have before making its way to Peck Park for sive, with an estimated 8,000 lining reate Jerry Brady recited his emotional been locked out for 40 days, because the Bloody Thursday Picnic. the streets from San Pedro to Gardena and moving about Bloody Thursday. their employer thinks 18 bucks an Picnic with a purpose to witness the procession of cars that ILWU International Vice President hour is too much. Every day that we The Bloody Thursday Picnic had stretched six miles. Law enforcement Bobby Olvera, Jr briefly addressed that go to work, we’re blessed with what we all of the food and activities union warned of a riot following the funeral, gathering. He recalled the tough year have. It’s not given to us. We keep it members have come to expect despite but because both events were peace- that everyone faced with COVID. He because we fight.” the shortened time-frame the Local 13 ful, public support increased for the paid tribute to the members of the continued on page 5 union cause.

Portland event: Columbia River ILWU locals honored the Bloody Thursday Classic car caravan: The graveside memorial service to honor First Blood martyrs with a march from the Local 8 hall to Terminal 1 with for a wreath laying martyrs Dickie Parker and John Knudsen was followed by a caravan from Roosevelt ceremony. The event was captured by Oregon Public Broadcasting for an upcoming Cemetary to Peck Park. The caravan included dozens of immaculately restored and documentary on the 1934 strike. maintained classic cars.

4 DISPATCHER • JULY/AUGUST 2021 Kids corner: Children were treated to expert face paintings along with a variety Family time: Families bonded over picnic games that were available throughout of games and activities. the park.

Events Committee had to plan the pic- Seattle nic. A wide-range and food and drinks ILWU members celebrated in were available at no cost to members Seattle with a small, socially distanced and families that included hot dogs, wreath-laying ceremony on the water- hamburgers and pizza. Live music front. The cruise ships traditionally from several local bands and a large work on July 5th and prior to the dance floor to keep the crowd hyped commencement of work, a ceremony and moving. This year’s picnic also fea- is held and a wreath is released into tured a horseshoe tournament. the water to memorialize the workers Kids had a blast whose lives were lost during the 1934 strike. Following the wreath laying ser- Much of the picnic festivities vice, members gathered at the graveside focused on entertainment for kids – of Shelvy Daffron to pay their respects which gave grown-ups a chance to on honor his sacrifice that helped build relax and socialize while their chil- the ILWU. The event was organized by dren played safely on an assortment of the Seattle Pensioners Club. activities that included bounce houses, games and face painting. Portland ILWU Federated Auxiliary: Federated Auxiliary Local 8 sponsored a raffle Pensioner & Auxiliary Portland Columbia River Locals 4, to raise funds to support the important work they do for the ILWU family. 12, 21, 50, 53 and 92, Local 5, the The Southern California Pension- Inlandboatmen’s Union and Auxiliary played Taps as Tom Owens placed the Bay Area ers Group had a booth with tables, 5 members joined Local 8 at the hiring wreath in the river. The Bay Area Longshoremen’s chairs, food and goodies available for hall to march to the pier at Terminal Documentary producer Nadine Jel- Association (BALMA) made the dif- dozens who dropped-by. The always 1 for a memorial service and wreath sing from Oregon Public Broadcasting ficult decision to cancel their Bloody active ILWU Federated Auxiliary Local ceremony. Torrae DelaCruz gave a filmed the ceremony for an upcoming Thursday event but are hopeful that 8 worked the crowd, selling raffle tick- history of the July 5th battle and the OPB documentary on the ILWU and 2022 will all the safe return of the ets for a local benefit. The Local 13 birth of the ILWU. Paul Brainnard July 5, 1934. annual celebration at the Local 10 hall. Publicity Committee also set up a table

DISPATCHER • JULY/AUGUST 2021 5 Local 19 members celebrate Juneteenth with actions to protect the port & save the historic home of Frank Jenkins embers of ILWU Local 19 The Port Security Program on the dis- celebrated Juneteenth by proportionately affected black dock- organizing two events. workers and seamen. Black members M of the ILWU constituted two-thirds The first was held on the Seattle of longshore workers denied Coast waterfront at Terminal 46. The Guard passes in the Puget Sound terminal is in danger of losing despite the fact that they comprised cargo-handling space to a planned a minority of the union’s member- expansion of the adjacent Coast ship. The Marine Cooks and Stewards Union also had a disproportionate Guard base. The event began at 9 number of Black members screened a.m. with a motorcade starting at off of ships along with the entirety of the Local 19 hall to the Terminal their elected leadership. The Supreme 46 main truck entrance. Court eventually ruled the law uncon- At the event, Local 19 Education stitutional in 1968. Committee presented a 6-panel poster Local 19 President Rich Austin, display that featured historic articles Jr. spoke at the event. He stressed the from the Dispatcher covering the Cold- importance of stepping up the fight War era conflict between the union and against racism and discrimination. federal government over The Magnu- “The past year has shown us that the son Act. This port security legislation struggle against racism in this coun- was enacted in 1950 and empowered try is as important as it has ever been. Rally for Frank Jenkins: ILWU members and community supporters rallied the U.S. Coast Guard to screen mari- The struggle for equality is not over until the people who have been mar- outside the former house of labor and civil rights icon and Local 19 member Frank time workers in the Puget Sound for Jenkins. The historic house is scheduled for demolition by a real estate developer to communist ties and deny union work- ginalized tell us it is over. Racism and build efficiency units ers the ability to freely access the docks discrimination have no place amongst and vessels. the working class,” Austin said. worker, leader, and founding member Pacific Northwest. The Harry Bridges The Magnuson Act was seen by The afternoon event was held of Local 19 who was known for his Center for Labor Studies at the Univer- the ILWU as a way to weaken militant outside the former house of Local 19 encyclopedic knowledge of the long- sity of Washington participated in and unions including the LWU and the icon Frank Jenkins. Jenkins was a shore contract and for being an impor- contributed significantly to the after- Marine Cooks and Stewards Union. prominent Black & Filipino longshore tant labor and civil right leader in the noon event. continued on page 8 Angela Davis made an honorary member of Local 10 in Juneteenth induction ceremony

continued from page 3 “Together we will protect the Port greatest statements I’ve ever heard,” of this local along with the great Mar- ning rendition of the Black National of Oakland, our jobs, our livelihoods, Willis said. tin Luther King. Let me end by saying Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing.” and our communities,” she said. “We Davis thanked Local 10 for the honor as you all say, and we all must say, an Protecting jobs at the Port of will stand up to billionaire interests, and recounted her long historical con- injury to one is an injury to all.” sports stadiums, and condominiums Oakland nection to the ILWU, and the shared 1972 resolution supporting Davis because our jobs, our communities are commitment to internationalism she Social justice attorney and ILWU The ILWU’s connection to Angela at stake. We will not let them win.” shares with the local. Northern California District Coun- Davis dates back decades. At the 1971 After Ramachandran spoke, Willis cil endorsed candidate for the 18th “I am deeply grateful for this ILWU General Convention, delegates thanked Ramachandran for opposing the Assembly District, Janani Ramachan- opportunity to be inducted as an hon- passed a resolution urging full sup- Howard Terminal baseball stadium and dran, was one of several speakers at orary member of International Long- port for a fair trial for Davis and for emphasized the threat the project poses the event. Ramachandran praised the shore and Warehouse Union Local 10,” her to be released on bail. Davis had to longshore jobs at the Port of Oakland. ILWU for being a “fierce fighter for Davis said. She recognized “the role been charged with murder because justice” for decades and said she was “We have a real crisis at the Port of that this union has played not only in guns registered in her name were used honored to have the endorsement of Oakland. Billionaire John Fisher wants upholding workers’ rights but in lead- in an armed takeover of a courtroom the most social-justice-minded union to build a playground where we work. ing the struggle to combat racism and in Marin County, California, in which in the country. He wants to build condominiums combat racial capitalism.” Davis said four people were killed. Davis was in where we work,” Willis said. that she was particularly proud to be jail for over a year before being granted “If we allow condominiums to inducted on Juneteenth. bail in February of 1972. She was be built where we work, we won’t be “It’s been one year since this great acquitted of all charges months later. working there long. We have to sup- union led the major mobilization to The Convention resolution on the port the people who are running for protest the police murders of George Davis case linked her prosecution with state offices and city and county offices Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and too many the prosecution of other labor mili- that have the same positions we have.” others on Juneteenth at the Port of tants in American history including Other speakers at the event included Oakland. Local 10 has been at the fore- Tom Mooney and Harry Bridges. “Now former ILWU International President front of radical unionism for my entire there is a concentrated and relentless Brian McWilliams, Local 10 members career. I learned from this union why crusade to kill Angela Davis,” the reso- Vanetta Hamlin and Linda Adams, Bay workers are the very heart of revolu- lution read. “Prejudice and frame-up Area Pensioners President Lawrence tionary struggle,” Davis said. is now employed to crush black mili- Thibeaux, and Local 10 pensioners “I cannot explain how inspired I tancy. The same device has always been Clarence Thomas and Jack Heyman. am to be inducted into this great union used against labor when the powers of that has embraced the internationalist Induction ceremony big business and government decide causes that have been close to my heart that organized workers are ‘getting out When introducing Angela Davis, from the Abraham Lincoln Brigades in of line’ in their struggle for a better life. Willis recalled Davis’s speech during the Spanish Civil War to solidarity with When President Nixon, Governor Rea- the 2020 Juneteenth rally and march the Chilean people as they resisted fas- gan and the big money press incite the at the Port of Oakland where she cism of the Pinochet regime to the fight legal lynching of Angela Davis, expe- Lift every voice: Local 10 Drill Team stated that if she had not chosen to member Janice Smith also wowed the to end South African Apartheid and rience and common sense tell us to become a college professor, she would audience with an amazing rendition of the the current fight to end Israeli Apart- beware. These are our enemies too and have wanted to be a member of the Black National Anthem to start the June- heid. I cannot tell you how privilege I it could well be us next time around.” teenth celebration at the Local 10 hall. ILWU. “I thought that was one of the feel to be made an honorary member

6 DISPATCHER • JULY/AUGUST 2021 Union By Law: New Book Recounts A Century of Struggle by Filipino American Labor Activists

comprehensive history. As legal schol- ars, the authors are especially inter- ested in how Filipino Americans have confronted repressive and racist laws, and used legal strategies as a tool in their struggle for labor rights and civil rights. Migrant workers first arrived from the Philippines as colonial sub- jects with ambiguous legal status, but through their labor organizing and union activities gained access to citi- zenship and representation. Legal action played a central role in the fight against the deportation of ILWU Local 37’s leaders, and was a critical part of fighting racial segregation in the can- neries in the 1970s. It also was crucial Silme Domingo (left) and Gene Viernes (right), 1981. University of Washington in achieving justice following the assas- Libraries, Special Collections, UW 39786, UW 39787. sinations of Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes, including a landmark judge- n 1989, the United States dent Harry Bridges throughout the ment against Ferdinand Marcos. 1930s and 1940s. The relationship Supreme Court decided the “For workers, the law is not always activities, including Terri Mast, retired ultimately resulted in the creation of landmark case, Wards Cove v. in our interest,” reflects Inlandboat- IBU Region 37 Director Rich Gurtiza, I cannery workers’ union ILWU Local and activist scholar Ligaya Domingo. men’s Union Secretary-Treasurer Terri Atonio, rolling back decades of 37 in 1951, based in Seattle but repre- Mast, one of the many activists profiled The Labor Archives of Washington, progress in civil rights. The Court senting workers throughout the Alaska in Union By Law. “The law doesn’t established by the Bridges Center with ruled against Filipino American cannery industry. Like Harry Bridges, always protect us. In fact it’s made the support of the ILWU in 2010, was immigrant leaders of Local 37, includ- and Native workers who sought things very difficult for labor. But what also a crucial resource for the book. ing Ernesto Mangaoang and Chris redress for racial discrimination I’ve learned is that in the midst of class “Union By Law comes at a very Mensalves, were accused of being struggle, we have to use all our tools, important juncture in our country,” in the Alaska cannery industry, Communists and targeted for depor- be that the legal system, governmental says Cindy Domingo, another of the weakening the 1964 Civil Rights tation by the U.S. government during agencies, or whatever is in front of us. longtime activists featured in the book. Act and making it much more the Red Scare of the 1940s and 1950s. Most importantly it’s about building “As I watched the impeachment hear- Also like Bridges, they were success- difficult for workers to prove broad coalitions, community alliances, ings on the insurrection at the Capitol in ful in defeating their deportation cases cases against racism and sexism. and building a workers’ movement.” Washington DC, I couldn’t help think- thanks to the strength of the ILWU. Union By Law: Filipino American Union By Law is a product of one ing that we have been the ones fighting Part two of Union By Law charts Labor Activists, Rights Radicalism, and of those alliances between the labor to create and save the real democracy the rise of a second generation of Fili- Racial Capitalism (University of Chi- movement and academic scholars. The in the United States. And we have done pino American labor activists in the cago Press), a new book by Michael result of twenty-five years of research, it in the streets, in our homes, in our 1970s and 1980s. Working in the can- W. McCann and George I. Lovell, pro- including extensive archival research schools, and in the Court all the way nery industry alongside their fathers, fessors at the Harry Bridges Center and dozens of personal interviews, the to the Supreme Court. We are the ones young workers were appalled at the for Labor Studies at the University of book was made possible in part by the that have given true meaning to the conditions of racial segregation in Washington, challenges the Supreme Harry Bridges Center at the University word democracy and brought life to it the canneries, and by the complancy Court’s decision by recounting the of Washington, which provided fund- through our life’s work.” and corruption of union leaders who hundred year history of struggle for ing for the book. McCann and Lovell, accomodated it. Inspired by Seattle labor and civil rights by Filipino Amer- both former Directors of the Bridges labor organizer Tyree Scott, who orga- icans that led to the Wards Cove case. Center, developed relationships with nized Black contractors to challenge The Court’s ruling, McCann and Lovell the ILWU and Filipino American labor racial discrimination in the construc- argue, ignored “a long, dark, continu- activists through the Bridges Center’s tion trades, young workers like Gene ing history of legally enforced racial Viernes, Silme Domingo, and his and class domination in America.” brother Nemesio Domingo filed anti- Their book recounts that dark his- discrimination lawsuits against the can- tory while showing how, over multiple neries - including the class aciton suit generations, Filipino American work- that would reach the Supreme Court in ers organized against it. In particular, 1989. The reformers were also elected the book highlights the important role to leadership positions in ILWU Local played by the ILWU and its members 37, and as part of the KDP (Katipunan through ILWU Local 37, known today ng Demokratikong Pilipino, or Union as Inlandboatmen’s Union, Region 37. of Democratic Filipinos), moved the At a time when struggles for racial jus- ILWU to challenge the repressive dic- tice are more important than ever, the tatorship of Ferdinand Marcos in the new book draws on the history of the Philippines by passing a resolution ILWU to show how the labor move- to investigate the regime’s anti-labor ment and the civil rights movement are practices at the ILWU’s international often one in the same. convention in 1981. Tragically, shortly Beginning with the brutal U.S. after the convention, on June 1, 1981, invasion of the Philippines at the turn Silme Domingo and Gene Viernes were of the twentieth century, the first part shot and killed in Local 37’s union hall of Union By Law tells the story of the in Seattle. Following years of legal tri- Emma Catague Elaine Ko Terry Mast Leni Marin and Cindy Domingo in anguished first large wave of Filipino migrant protest at the funeral for Domingo and Viernes. From CJDV pamphlet ca. 1981. als and organizing led by Silme’s sister University of Washington Library Special Collections, UW. workers to the West Coast United Cindy Domingo and Local 37 leader States, and their efforts at organizing Terri Mast, it was proven that the two workers on farms and in fish canner- were killed at the order of Marcos him- ies from the Great Depression through self, with the help of a corrupt union the early days of the Cold War. Despite president, and the likely complicity of many different union locals, with vary- the U.S. government. ing affiliations and name changes, their While these stories have been efforts were frequently allied with the told before, McCann and Lovell are ILWU and outspoken union presi- the first to tie them together into one

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ADRP—Northern California ADRP—Washington Contract ratified:ILWU Local 30 members in Boron voted to ratify their Hunny Powell Donnie Schwendeman contract with Rio Tinto on June 29th. Local 30 President Thomas Marshall said that negotiating team was able to win pay raises in a number of areas throughout the [email protected] 3600 Port of Tacoma Rd. #503 agreement and prevented the company from increasing health care costs for Local 400 North Point Tacoma, WA 98424 30 members. With assistance from the International’s Organizing Department and San Francisco, CA 94133 (253) 922-8913 solidarity and support from Southern California ILWU Locals, Local 30 mobilized the (415) 776-8363 membership to put pressure on Rio Tinto. As the deadline for the expiration of the contract extension approached, Local 30 members and their families organized early ILWU CANADA ILWU WAREHOUSE DIVISION morning demonstrations outside the gates to show their unity, solidarity, and deter- EAP—British Columbia mination to accept nothing less than a fair contract. DARE—Northern California John Felicella Teamsters Assistance Program 3665 Kingsway, Ste 300 300 Pendleton Way Vancouver, BC V5R 5WR Oakland, CA 94621 (604) 254-7911 (510) 562-3600

Local 19 members celebrate Juneteenth to protect the port & save the historic home of Frank Jenkins continued from page 6 1419 24th Ave E in the Central District Jenkins himself ran afoul of the Port or Historic Africatown Seattle—a rap- Security Program when he had his Coast idly gentrifying neighborhood near the Guard permit was pulled in 1955 after waterfront that is now proposed to be he testified on behalf of Harry Bridges demolished in order to build small effi- during his deportation trial. His Coast ciency units. A progressive local Seattle Guard pass was eventually reinstated blog and social media project called Solidarity with Local 6: The Bay Area Pensioners club donated $1,000 to after Jenkins fought the ban in court. Vanishing Seattle made Local 19 mem- the Stratas Food Solidarity fund to support Local 6 members who have been locked The goal of the demonstration bers aware of the pending demolition out by Stratas Foods since May 4th. Donations to the fund can be sent to Local 6 at was to raise awareness about the his- of Jenkins former home. their hall at 99 Hegenberger Rd, Oakland, CA 94621. In the photo are the officers of toric nature of Jenkins’ former home at the Bay Area Pensioners Club (left to right): Vice President Norm McCloud, President Lawrence Thibeaux, and Secretary-Treasurer Brian R. “Six Pack” McDonald. ILWU BOOK & VIDEO ORDER FORM TRANSITIONS ORDER BY MAIL ___ copies of Solidarity Stories @ $17 ea. = $_____ NEW PENSIONERS: Local 21: Roy A. Christison; Local 4: Joseph F. Bielas; Local 23: Leslie L. Richardson; ___ copies of A Spark Is Struck @ $13.50 ea.= $_____ Local 10: Gregory Smith; Local 24: Mike L. Donovick; Michael Local 12: Ernest Torres: Local 13: Joe R. Mcfadden; Local 34: Robert L. ___ copies of The Legacy of 1934 @ two for $5 = $_____ V. Cortez; Jimmy D Steele; Eric Garitano; John P. Larkey, Jr.; Erikson; Ronald G. Freeney; Craig W. Local 52: George S. Nelson; ___ copies of Harry Bridges @ $10 ea.= $_____ Haenny; Christopher K. Henrich; Local 53: Rodney D. Worman; ___ copies of The Big Strike @ $9.00 ea. = $_____ Steven R. Hill; Gary Kelley; William H. Local 63: Roger L. Montoya; John M. Robbins; Stephen J. Mintz; Pete Monti; Torres; Local 94: Fred E. Bingham Jr. ___ copies of The Union Makes Us Strong @ $20 ea. = $_____ Cassandra Moore; Local 21: Barry S (Gladys); William R. Croasdale; Dale Mackey; Local 23: Garry L. Mc Neill; Franklin; ___ copies of Eye of the Storm DVD @ $5 ea. = $_____ Local 46: Jess J. Herrera; Ruben C. DECEASED SURVIVORS: Perez; Local 52: Teresa K. Lewis; Local 8: Parthene G. Frasier; ___ copies of We Are the ILWU DVD @ $5 ea. = $_____ Local 63: Lawrence Del Castillo; Local 10: Suzanne Lindner; Betty Elizabeth A. Ahumada; Michael A. Jimmerson; Local 13: Maria L. ___ copies of A Life on the Beam DVD @ $5 ea. = $_____ Hallet; Wayne H. Johnson; Candy Jean Bustamante; Darlene Gonzalez; Violet Ruggeri; Yvonne A. Smallwood; Ketchum; Local 19: Annie J Favro; Total Enclosed $_____ Thomas Perez; Local 63 (OCU): Janet Christine E. Johnson; Local 21: Betty No sales outside the U.S. Gills; Bea Wright; Patty Cahill; Lilijana B. Birtchet; Local 23: Aurora Cassatt; We regret that U.S. Customs and postal regulations create too great a burden Galic; Local 94: Fred S. Delprino; Local 29: Lorraine Miramontes; for our staff to maintain book sale service to our members and friends outside Matthew J Jurevich; Local 32: Renise R. Burpee; the United States. DECEASED ACTIVE MEMBERS: Local 34: Elizabeth Mendiola; Local 13: David Rico; Local 94: David Local 52: June P. Maurice; Name______L. Howard; Local 63: Elevia L. Hallet; Local 75; Street Address or PO Box ______DECEASED PENSIONERS: Concepcion C Alcaraz; Local 8: Freddie McGee; Local 91: Louise G. Brueckner; City ______State______Zip______Local 10: Joseph Cresci; James Salome S. Perez; Local 92: Dawn M. Make check or money order (U.S. Funds) payable to “ILWU” and send to Daniels; Emery Sullivan Jr.; Fowler; Local 94: Eloise P. Monroy; Mary D. Kostrenich; Local 13: Mark A. Kuha; Robert ILWU Library, 1188 Franklin Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 Lara; Thomas C. Mladinich; Prices include shipping and handling. Local 19: Robert F. Burden; Please allow at least four weeks for delivery. Shipment to U.S. addresses only

8 DISPATCHER • JULY/AUGUST 2021