Bulletin #38-14

Bulletin #38-14

December 29, 2014

In 1934, Longshoremen from San Diego to Bellingham Washington went on strike demanding recognition and a union controlled dispatch hall, after Bloody Thursday and the 4 day general strike that ensued, the National Longshoreman’s Board settled the strike and the UNION PREVAILED.

In that ruling the Longshoremen were given the right to a 6 hour workday with overtime and cargo differentials. No longer would they have to work 12, 16 or 24 hour shifts and be paid whatever wage the shipping company chose to pay. The Longshoremen also agreed on a grievance process, a process used to resolve disputes on the docks regarding the conditions men were directed to work under and jurisdiction and definition of “Longshore work”. All of the arbitrations and rulings that followed set up the working rules and provisions that exist today.

Most importantly, the Longshoremen gained the right to a union run dispatch hall. The shape-up was now a thing of the past. Men who went to work would no longer be required to pay a boss for their job, drink in a bar owned by a boss or cash their paycheck there and every man got an equal opportunity to work.

All of the gains that the Longshoremen before us sacrificed and died to obtain are now under attack by our “corporate” employer group, aka PMA.  The employers are attacking every agreement they have ever made with us. They are relentless in their efforts to carve up our jurisdiction and return to an employer controlled dispatch system. The shipping and stevedore companies have committed themselves to weakening the PCMSC (safety code) which has kept us from broken bones, loss of limbs and death since its creation in 1931.

There is no doubt we are living in a moment of history for our great union and the industry that has provided for our families for over 75 years.  Every generation has an obligation to maintain and strengthen what the ILWU has provided. We cannot allow ourselves to be divided by the propaganda, the threats and the actions of the employers. Now is the time for every member of the ILWU to stand up and stand with our brothers and sisters, secure in our solidarity and remain committed to obtaining a good contract, a contract that reflects the hard work the men and women of the ILWU perform every single day and night.

Fraternally,

Bobby Olvera, Jr. Mondo Porras Mark Williams

President Vice President Secretary/Treasurer

Please note: The Officers of Local 13 will be available at the Dispatch Hall during morning and night dispatch during the holiday closure.

OFFICE OF ILWU LOCAL 13

HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

The office hours for ILWU Local 13 will be as follows:

Monday, December 29, 2014 – CLOSED

Tuesday, December 30, 2014 - CLOSED

Wednesday, December 31, 2014 – New Year’s Eve CLOSED

Thursday, January 1, 2015 – New Year’s Day CLOSED

Friday, January 2, 2015 – CLOSED

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING CANCELLED

During the holiday closure, the Executive Board Meeting scheduled for Thursday, December 25, 2014 @ 12:30 p.m. will be cancelled.  

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015

The Executive Board Meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 8, 2015 will be held at 12:30 p.m.

STOP WORK MEETING

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8, 2015  

The regular scheduled membership meeting scheduled for January 2, 2015 will be postponed until Thursday, January 8, 2015 @ 7:00 p.m.  

CLASS B DELINQUENT DAY EXTENSION

During the holiday closure, the Class B Delinquent Day will be extended until Friday, January 9, 2015 @ 3:00 p.m.