The ILA’s bargaining committee for a new deep-sea master contract–the Wage Scale Committee–is meeting in Tampa, Florida, this week.The Wage Scale Committee is comprised of elected delegates from each ILA local.The ILA leadership has initiated early bargaining (the contract doesn’t expire until September 2010–see here and here for background on the early negotiations) with the employer, the United States Maritime Alliance.

The meeting of the Wage Scale Committee is the first step in these contract negotiations.

The Longshore Workers’ Coalition will provide regular updates on the contract negotiations, so check back frequently.

MASTER CONTRACT BARGAINING UPDATE #1 (January 6, 2009)
Prior to the start of the Wage Scale Committee meeting ILA delegates elected to the Wage Scale Committee and affiliated with the LWC convened a meeting in Tampa on Monday January 5.

At this meeting they agreed that early negotiations are not wise during this deep  economic recession. Large carriers have already expressed a desire for givebacks and concessions up and down the coast.

LWC delegates will urge the ILA to postpone negotiations until closer to the expiration and encourage the ILA to use this time to mobilize the membership for a strong contract campaign.

The ILA must stand up and hold the line for American workers and not give in to employers who refused to share the wealth in the profitable times and who now want to balance their books on the backs of working families.

The LWC will organize around ending the wage and royalty tiers, improving safety and protecting the ILA’s jurisdiction from non-union work and new technology.

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