The ilwus action in southern california goes against 15 years of precedent and targets precisely the skilled workers who are most essential to clearing congested terminals. Aug 26, 2010 under longtime leader harry bridges, the ilwu would become one of the most powerful and influential unions in america. International longshoremens and warehousemens union local 1. By the 1930s, tacoma longshore workers had made significant gains. The ilwu has a proud history of class struggle and. From the 50 oral history profiles that began running in the dispatcher in 1994, to the reissue of the march inland, my book on the origins of the warehouse division released in 2000, to the publication of solidarity stories. Left unchecked, it will gut ilwus coastwide power and bury the last militant union in the u. The union leadership opposed it, but nelson mandela himself thanked local 10 for it. Powells books is a chain of bookstores in portland, oregon, and its surrounding metropolitan area. The current president is robert mcellrath, a longshore worker from local 4 in vancouver, wa. Ilwu local 10, the local of the legendary 20th century labor leader, harry bridges and william bill chester, the first african american to serve as an international officer, submitted a resolution calling for the aalc to have a voice but no vote, at the convention and longshore caucus. Nlrb charges have been filed against local 23 and pma for refusing to dispatch eric to the sim. Custodial history the records apparently were transferred to aberdeen, washington, when local 1 and aberdeen local 24 merged in 1976.
Jimmy herman led the union from 1977 to 1991, when david arian replaced him, followed by brian mcwilliams in 1994. Anthony leviege, activist member ilwu local 10 stacey rodgers, executive board member ilwu local 10 jack mulcahy, member ilwu local 8 portland, grain negotiator. In 2008, ilwu made history shutting down all west coast ports to protest the war on iraq and afghanistan. Tacoma labor relations committee minutes, november 30, 1934, to present. Meanwhile, the ilwus brand of rankandfile unionism spread under the banner of the cio, paying off in more gains and greater security for the members of the ilwu and for all american workers. Tacoma local 23 of the international longshoremens and. I dont know the history of powells books, but do know that there are three branches of powells in chicago. Powells headquarters, dubbed powells city of books, claims to be the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. Valdez, a brief history of local 37, 1952 yearbook, ilwu local 37, chris d. We have a proven history of successfully pushing back against the corrupt thugs running the ilwu. If you are a longshore worker, or a company who deals with the ilwu, and you are getting bullied and pushed around by the thugs currently running the union, give us a call. By withholding an average of 75 yard crane drivers each day, the ilwu has stalled the movement of tens of.
The activities included a combination of educational, inspirational, and agitational events, according to jean ordano, who serves as president. The ilwu represents 42,000 members in over 60 local unions in the states of california, washington, oregon, alaska and hawaii. Al allen collection on the international longshore and warehouse union, 1939 2016 pdf. Jun 26, 2006 ilwu local 10, the local of the legendary 20th century labor leader, harry bridges and william bill chester, the first african american to serve as an international officer, submitted a resolution calling for the aalc to have a voice but no vote, at the convention and longshore caucus. Ilwu local 9 international longshore and warehouse union. The last pacific coast outpost of the ila, grainliners local 1892 near longview, washington, did not vote to join the ilwus local 21 until 1981. Peter haines the container gainshare money versus the container clause history. The organizing effort began in 1998 when the company restructured jobs and significantly reduced raises for workers.
Are wages expected to be a sticking point in the negotiations. August, the ilwu helped lead resistance to a planned altright protest in san francisco. Since 1937 ilwu members have been providing skilled labor to the port of vancouver and to other northwest ports for the purpose of loading and unloading cargo for all. The may day 2008 antiwar walkout was a clear reminder of the right and need of union members to be social activists, todd iverson, a current leader in local 23 tacoma and participant in 2008, tells in these. Browse or search through the voice of the federation digital archive, 19351941 the voice of the federation was the newspaper for the maritime federation of the pacific, a consortium of unions that formed in the wake of the 1934 pacific coast waterfront and maritime strikes. Ilwu local 10 is a majorityblack union today as a consequence. Local 23 took it to the outside when they used a pma arbitration to try and stop eric from working at a nonpma job. James spinosa defeated mcwilliams in the election for ilwu president in 2000.
The waterfront workers history project is a program of the university of washington, which. Ian ruskins play about harry bridges and the west coast dock workers brings to life the story of one of the most important leaders and one of the most militant unions in american labor history. Jack spurrell later took an interest in preserving them and brought them back to. March 17, 2020 we are reaching out to acknowledge the challenging times facing our members and to invoke the strength and humanity of the ilwu family as we navigate through this. These dockworkers just showed the labor movement how to shut. Feb 12, 2015 seattle civil rights and labor history project 1,9 views. The plantation system living standards of plantation workers the formation of ilwu local 142 the 1946 sugar strike 1949 dockworkers fight for parity six decades of militant unionism.
This book unrolls the history of the union from its origins to the present, complete with. Drawing the line against corporate greed in boron ilwu. Seattle longshore union minute books, july 2, 1918, to present. The ilwu s action in southern california goes against 15 years of precedent and targets precisely the skilled workers who are most essential to clearing congested terminals. M embers of the ilwu s federated auxiliaries gathered for their annual convention in boron, california on october 1214. Longshoremens and warehousemens union ilwu local 1, the first cio local of the ilwu chartered. The ilwu longshore struggle in longview and beyond.
Ilwu local 502 coverall availability due to concerns around covid19, we had to to change procedures for our safety stores coverall position. Local 23 is the last major west coast longshore local to affiliate with the ilwu. These dockworkers just showed the labor movement how to. In accordance with addendum 1 re black book of the. The bcmea and ilwu canadian area met on october 4, 1985 to negotiate a renewal and revision of the collective agreement that was due to expire on december 31, 1985. In 1977, local 23 of the ilwu began preparing a grant proposal in response to a. While the story primarily covers a period some 50 to 70 years ago, the message applies to the struggles workers face today. This article is incomplete without a discussion of these branches and possibly information on the bookstores history. Tracking damages outlines the impact to ila members jobs made by. The last pacific coast outpost of the ila, grainliners local 1892 near longview, washington, did not vote to join the ilwu s local 21 until 1981.
The book chronicles over a century of tacomas waterfront history, beginning. Published by the international longshore and warehouse union. Coveralls will be available to drop offpick up at the union hall between 6. Longshoremen and local historians preserved tacomas waterfront. Sources for the working longshoreman university of washington. Chronological history ofthe dealings ofseallie waterfront. The seattle brouhaha was begun when tacoma local 23 president scott mason interrupted an ilwu speaker myself to demand that president mcellraths letter be read. In the middle of that strike, longshore leaders forged an alliance with the citys black communities to end discrimination on the docks.
Read about contract negotiations, different worksites, and industries, ilwu sports, outstanding members, organizing and more. Please use the front double glass doors of the hall to enter. Aug 29, 2017 among ilwu members present was howard keylor, a 90yearold who led the antiapartheid boycott that local 10 conducted in 1984 in solidarity with south africans. Ilwu local 5 was chartered on august 10, 2000, after a twoyear organizing and contract campaign by 400 workers at powells books in portland. Seattle civil rights and labor history project 1,9 views. The office of labormanagement standards olms requires unions to report how they spent their money in a number of categories.
The paper briefly served as the official communications organ for west coast longshoremen. Meanwhile, the ilwu s brand of rankandfile unionism spread under the banner of the cio, paying off in more gains and greater security for the members of the ilwu and for all american workers. He thinks that it might also allude to the names of the. Anytime we are afraid to speak about unions, the manual warns. Report to the stewards council ilwu local 10 some soviet union longshoring herb mills. February 9, 1976, march 23, 1976, january 27, 1977. About local 94 an injury to one is an injury to all. Dean mcgrath, president of ilwu local 23 in tacoma, was inspired by how ingrained the ilwu members are in the long beachlos angeles harbor community and wanted to show tacoma how much his own membership of 1,350 registered and casual longshore workers were part of their citys fabric. Local 23 volunteers have a fundrais ing drive to help raise. Under longtime leader harry bridges, the ilwu would become one of the most powerful and influential unions in america. The seattle brouhaha was begun when tacoma local 23 president scott mason interrupted an ilwu speaker myself to. But the remnants of the ila also clung to life, at least in washington tacomas longshoremen remained in the old union until 1958, and the last holdout, the port of longview ila local, didnt join the ilwu until 1981. Bmen pay a lower collective bargaining fee because of nlrb charges we filed. Local 9 of the international longshore and warehouse union is one of the original locals that split with the international longshoremans association in 1937, and has a long, proud history of activism on and around the seattle waterfront.
Miller scholars who have written about local history hold no consensus on the purpose, value, and even. Al allen collection on the international longshore. Onehundred and twenty lucky ilwu longshore division members attended an intensive 6day history and traditions conference in san francisco on december 1 read more ilwu library acquires collection of paul heide, union pioneer and local 6 stalwart. Tacoma longshore union minute books, june 7, 1938, to present. Tacoma central labor council minutes january 9, 1906 march 15, 1918. Powells workers filed for a union election on march 12, 1999. The international longshoremens association, aflcio is the largest union of maritime workers in north america, representing upwards of 65,000 longshoremen on the atlantic and gulf coasts, great lakes, major u. President adams address to the membership video april 24, 2020 at 9.
Powells city of books is located in the pearl district on the edge of downtown and occupies a full city block between nw 10th and 11th avenues and between w. The ilwu local 23 project stands as an excellent example of. Print out this order form and mail in with your order. Nearly,600 ilwu workers are employed at west coast ports. San francisco became a labor town, and has stayed a labor town, because of that conflict. Anthony leviege, activist member ilwu local 10 stacey rodgers, executive board member ilwu local 10 jack mulcahy, member ilwu local 8 portland, grain negotiator dan coffman, former president of longview ilwu local 21. Published by the international longshore and warehouse. Mar 27, 2018 san francisco became a labor town, and has stayed a labor town, because of that conflict.
International longshoremens and warehousemens union. Nlrb case 19cb191596 charge against local 23, nlrb case 19ca191591 charge against pma. By withholding an average of 75 yard crane drivers each day, the ilwu has stalled the movement of tens of thousands of containers, the pma estimates. The voice of the ilwu is the official newspaper of ilwu local 142 and provides local union news as well as national and international labor and economic news. This recording is a follow up interview with dean johnson. During his time in tacomas local 23, allen formed a coalition with other. Among ilwu members present was howard keylor, a 90yearold who led the antiapartheid boycott that local 10 conducted in 1984 in solidarity. On april 22, 1999, the ilwu won a representation election for the workers at the gigantic powells bookstore.