ILWU Longshore Caucus Delegates, March 2014
The 90 delegates and dozens of pensioners who gathered in San Francisco for the Coast Longshore Division Caucus concluded their two week meeting on March 7 after adopting an approach to negotiations for a new Longshore & Clerks Contract that expires on June 30.
Resolutions set the agenda
With delegates elected from each West Coast port, there were plenty of resolutions, containing ideas, suggestions and priorities for the new contract. One by one, each resolution was passed, defeated, tabled, amended combined or withdrawn. An active “pro” and “con” debate insured that the ideas in each resolution were carefully examined before a vote.
Safety, wages, benefits, jurisdiction & technology
In the end, the resolutions for the upcoming contract generally revolved around these issues: safety, wages, benefits, jurisdiction and technology. Reports from Committees covering benefits, technology, education, safety and jurisdiction provided delegates with further details and analysis.
Rank & file delegates call shots
The Caucus process remains exceptionally democratic, led by rank-and-file delegates who have the consideration by fellow delegates. International President Bob McEllrath, along with fellow Coast Committee members Ray Familathe, Ray Ortiz, Jr., and Leal Sundet, offered occasional commentary and advice, but they deferred to the Caucus tradition that expects delegates – not officials – to call the shots.
Negotiating Committee selected
The Caucus also chose 12 delegates to sit on the main Contract Negotiating Committee with an additional 8 delegates to serve on the Safety Sub-Committee, who will join with the Coast Committee Officers to lead the contract talks.
Negotiating priorities
“Longshore members and Clerks have made it clear that they want a contract with stronger safety provisions, more secure benefits, greater respect for ILWU jurisdiction and a reasonable approach to new technology,” said ILWU International President Bob McEllrath. “The Caucus did a good job of providing us with guidelines for a good agreement, and we intend to follow that approach.” McEllrath said he would recommend that talks begin sometime before the contract expiration date of June 30, “possibly sometime in May. We intend to work hard and negotiate the best possible agreement, and now we’ve got a good road map to get there.”