When the Blue Everton bulk carrier arrived at the Port of Bellingham on October 15 and Local 7 loaded the vessel with recycled metals, the event marked the beginning of a new era – and the end of a 20-year drought of regular service at the U.S. West Coast’s northernmost port.
“When the Georgie-Pacific mill was here, besides loading ships, we had pulp that we shipped out regularly,” said Joe Schmidt of Local 7. “This will be the first time in years we’ve had a steady stream of cargo in Bellingham.”
Schmidt said the ILWU pensioners are helping get the younger members of the local up to speed.
“It’s a pretty big deal, really, and there are growing pains that go with it. We’re starting all over again,” Schmidt said. “All of the pensioners are helping us out with any questions we have about manning, or any other things we run across; we get their opinion all the time. A lot of those guys are the ones that negotiated the deal we have now. It gives insight to our newer members: ‘In this situation, what did we do in the past?’ And the pensioners let us know.”