ILA President Richard Hughes announced that he will initiate early negotiations with the employers for the Deep-Sea Master contract set to expire in September 2010. 1588 officers will lead a discussion on the plan to win a good Master and Portwide agreement at our membership meeting on September 22. In 2004, 1588 overwhelmingly voted down the Master and Port-wide contract because it failed to bridge the gap between the top tier and bottom tier workforce and weakened port-wide staffing agreements at a time when the industry received the highest volume in history. Along with other reformers we pointed out that this agreement could bankrupt the International union, and it nearly has.

Key issues so far raised by members

Master

• End wage and royalty tiers and caps.

• Eliminate MILA tiers.
• Improve safety standards
• Protect against the impact of new technology
• Protect ILA jurisdiction and organize non-union longshore work.

Portwide

• the absentee program: Eliminate penalties for not working or shaping unless tied to guaranteed minimum income, as in the past.

• Resist shift work unless tied to salary guarantees.
• Eight-hour guarantee.
• Improve vision and dental plans
• Establish fair and equitable hiring port-wide: Close loopholes in seniority rules that allow employers to pick and choose.
• Increase skill differentials
• Improve pension and fix widows pension.(FYI: West Coast just won $180 per good year!)
• Make the cruise lines signatories to Portwide agreement