Reply #6: As a Longshoreman myself [View All]

[Popol Vuh]

Thanks for posting this. Yes this is certainly a subject of interest to our union (The ILWU).

For quite some time now the PMA (Pacific Maritime Association) has been looking to Mexico and even widening the Panama canal to dodge paying fair compensation to us longshoreman. I would get more into strategy and counter strategy with more of what's going on. But two things: One, as a Class-A Book longshoreman I swore an oath not to discuss matters concerning union issues. Two, for the reason we swear an oath - loose lips sink ships.

We have a contract coming up in July 2008. Needless to say we are all getting prepared for a fight. Its always reminded to everyone in our monthly meetings to get ready for 2008.

I would like to take this time to make a point about longshoreman pay/benefits. During our last contract negotiation when we were locked-out and then had the Taft Hartley imposed on us. I noticed a LOT of people (Democrats even) calling longshoreman greedy because of the good pay and benefits we make. I would just like to point-out that our pay only equals three cents on the dollar of what our labor produces. That is absolutely not greedy.

I know folks here are not the ones who are critical of longshore pay. But I just wanted to point that out for others who just read the DU.