International Longshoremen's Association Local 1588

Local 1588 members overwhelmingly voted down the proposed Master Contract Extension today by more than a two to one margin. 147 members voted No to 59 Yes. A high level of debate over the contract in the Local 1588 produced a deep understanding of the pros and cons of the contract among Local 1588 members. Despite an intense campaign from the International, including a last minute appearance by Richard Hughes and several top International officers at Global Terminal on Monday, members concerns about the flaws in the contract caused the lopsided opposition vote. 1588 members were concerned about weak protections against technology that could wipe out Longshore jobs, inadequate progress on the wage tiers, and tapping into benefit and health insurance funds to pay for raises.

October 14, 2009

Dear Local 1588 Members:

We have been appointed by the Local 1588 Executive Board to be the Election Committee responsible for overseeing the conduct of the 2009 election for Officers and Trustees. Below is important information about the election, including dates and deadlines and eligibility requirements to run, nominate, and vote. The information has also been mailed to every member.

We are strongly committed to making sure that the entire election process runs smoothly and is fair and transparent. If you have any questions about the election, please do not hesitate to contact one of us through the Local or on the job.

Sincerely,
Monique Ibarrondo
Lou Marrella
Roger Perez

Notice of Election Schedule and Timeline

Timeline
Wednesday, October 28: Deadline for submitting statement of intent to run.

ILA officials presented the latest USMX offer to Wage Scale Delegates on Tuesday in Orlando. The proposed extension appears to include some improvements over the one rejected by Delegates in early September. It maintains the October 1, 2009 wage increase which would have been eliminated by the previous proposal. However, the value of the wage increase -- estimated to be $42 million -- will be paid for out of the Container Royalty fund, meaning that Longshore workers are unlikely to see an increase in Container Checks for the next few years even though the cap has been lifted.

The proposal also gives back $15 million in MILA contributions that employers have to make this year under the current agreement and diverts and decreases other funding away from MILA, jeopardizing the soundness of our health insurance. The proposal makes modest progress towards closing the wage tiers, but Longshore workers will have to wait until the final few months of the three year extension (July, 2012) before the partial bridge is fully implemented. In the meantime, we will go two and a half years with no other raise. (For more analysis of the proposal go to the Longshore Workers Coalition web site.)

A majority of Wage Scale Delegates voted to recommend the proposal and put it to a membership referendum on November 17, 2009.

1588 was among several Locals to oppose the proposal. We believe that it is wrong and unfair to fund an agreed-upon wage increase out of the container fund and by depleting our health plan. We believe the proposal makes inadequate progress eliminating the wage tiers and provides only weak protections against technology that could wipe out substantial numbers of Longshore jobs.

With a year remaining on the contract there is no rush to force a problematic agreement on the membership. We can do better. We are recommending a No Vote on November 17. We will be coordinating with officers of other Locals and providing more information on the proposal shortly.

USMX Offer.
Longshore Workers Coalition web site.

September 3, 2009

55 members from 5 ports protest backroom proposal at ILA E-Board meeting in D.C. August 26 All five subcommittees of Wage Scale Delegates unanimously rejected a management contract proposal presented by ILA President Richie Hughes at a meeting of the delegates this week in Orlando.

The proposed agreement would have eliminated the wage increase scheduled for October 1, 2009, done nothing to address the serious and growing threat of job loss due to new technology, and made only modest steps towards closing the wage tiers. The proposal adequately addressed only one of the ILA’s main demands: eliminating the Container Royalty tiers.

Negotiations have been canceled and Wage Scale delegates are returning today. Wage Scale Delegates Tony Perlstein, Virgil Maldonado, Herman Garcia, and Johnny Taylor represented 1588 at the meeting.

A delegation of 17 members of Local 1588 joined up with Longshoremen from five other ports to protest outside an ILA Executive Board meeting in Washington, D.C on August 26. Local 1588 had received reports that the Executive Board was going to vote on a tentative backroom master contract deal that gives away the October 1, 2009 raise in the current contract and fails to address many other serious issues still on the table. In all, 55 longshoremen joined the protest over the course of the morning.

As a result of the protest and an internal fight on the executive board, ILA President Richard Hughes adjourned the Executive Board meeting after 15 minutes. The protest made it clear that Longshoremen will insist that any agreement be properly negotiated and address the concerns of the membership.

Wage scale delegates have been called to an emergency meeting in Orlando on August 31 through September 4.