The Longshore Workers Coalition ( LWC ) is once again poised to champion the cause of a wage bridge at the ILA International convention in July. The bridge would allow new workers, who started at a lower pay rate, to graduate to full pay. LWC members submitted resolutions calling on the ILA to adopt the […]

The fight for our future begins now. We must vigorously pursue the four main issues facing our union. The LWC will fight on many fronts and will not wait for the ILA leadership to get a clue. The convention is an opportunity to put pressure on officers and delegates to do the right thing.
ILA members […]

Companies are not sitting around waiting for a strike or a natural disaster to delay their cargo. They are investing today to protect their profit tomorrow.
Port development and expansion – Employers like A.P. Moeller-Maersk are building massive new terminals and using huge tax incentives to expand the number of places where they can unload cargo […]

During negotiations in 2004, ILA leadership agreed to drastically reduce retiree care, break up our benefits into 4 tiers by hours, increase co-pays and reduce coverage. They surrendered to management’s claim that without cuts the union’s heath care plan, MILA, would have $731 million deficit.

For the first time, the ILA sent a copy of the Master Contract to all members on their mailing list. Beginning in late April the newly made blue booklets arrived at the home of ILA members.
At the Southern and Gulf District convention last July the LWC presented a resolution calling on the International to provide […]

After months of protests, grievances, and lobbying efforts by local officials and rank and file members, Baltimore longshoremen achieved their long-sought goal of stopping the unsafe practice of driving through the mobile VACIS machines.
Back in July of 2006, after articles in Pier Pressure and rank and file anger, President Bowers issued a directive that all […]

Employers continue their efforts to weaken the Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. On March 12th Republican Senator Johnny Isakson of Georgia introduced senate bill 846 to amend the Act. Included in the proposed changes was eliminating an employees right to go to a doctor of your choice and changing the hearing loss standard. The […]

ILA Local 1422 used its political clout to block the appointment of Charlie Condon to the board of South Carolina State Ports Authority. Condon is the former Attorney General and lead prosecutor who indicted five longshoreman on felony rioting charges during a picket, later known as “The Charleston Five.”
As Attorney General, Mr. Condon personified the […]

Community health studies coming out of California and other regions with intermodal facilities argue that exposure to diesel dust has lead to increased rates of cancer, asthma, bronchitis and cardiovascular illnesses, as reported in the Journal of Commerce.
Diesel dust is made of small particles that can evade our lungs protective devises and can carry toxins […]

Rank and file members of the ILA took the ports of Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE by storm when they organized a petition for equal pay and direct election of International officers. The petition titled, “One Member–One Vote / Top pay Now” would obligate the delegates to the ILA Conventions to support resolutions for direct elections […]