Author: Jim Tessier

According the following article published on the Journal of Commerce’s web page, JOC-Article1-1-15, ILWU representative Adan Ortega released a letter sent to Macy’s related to the Employer’s announcement that they plan to start ordering only 1 gang per vessel.

Why write to Macy’s, and why release this kind of information? How about releasing the details of the PMA offer that was rejected by the Union?

PMA’s move is bold, and on first glance seems like something that may motivate the Union into changing their strategy and possibly agree to mediation, however it is a little like cutting their nose to spite their face.

Because PMA has refused to register new longshoremen they are employing a great number of casuals, on a daily basis.

Cutting gangs on the night shift, will cause the night workers to work on the dayside and the casuals will lose their work to the registered longshoremen who make the switch.

The Union has the ability to shift and shrink in a way that allows them to continue doing what they are doing.

PMA on the other hand needs the casual hours to fund the benefits that get paid to registered workers. PMA depends on the assessments on casual hours, for benefits that they are not eligible for, to fund the money they pay toward the registered workers benefits.  No casuals will not hurt the Union, but will cost the Employers.

Both sides need to quit playing games, and get back to the table and hammer out their differences, for everyone’s sake.

 

Because the ILWU has chosen to keep what they are doing a secret from their membership, including their caucus delegates, the workers have been forced to get their information from their Employers, and the self-proclaimed rumor captains.

There are members who are using the situation to whip up the rank and file because they are running for office in a few weeks, and they know if they put on a good show they are all but guaranteed re-election.

Dean mcGrath, Local 23 President, has broken from the pact not to talk to the press and done several interviews.

Looks like Dean likes the $167,000 that he is getting paid, and has decided to jump in to help the negotiators and make himself look good to his membership. He is acting like he has aspirations for higher offices in the Union, based on who he is hanging with and what he is saying.

Bobby Olvera Jr., Local 13 President, has been going to the dispatch hall to whip up the troops and make himself look good to his membership. He is up for re-relction in March 2015.

Bobby is telling the rank and file that PMA is acting badly, disrespecting their negotiators, and that PMA walked away from the table and is refusing to bargain.

So far, rumors being spread on the docks include:

PMA demanding that members pay 20% of the cost of the medical benefits.

Employers demanding manning reductions.

No pay increase being offered.

Employers demanding elimination of some safety rules.

It is interesting that the members accept what ever they are told as the truth and all say they are ready to strike, but not one can say what their strike issue is.

Seems to me that the ILWU at least owes it to their members to explain what the issues are and adhere to their own founding principle to give the members all the information and they will do the right thing.

This mornings rumor is that next week the Employers are going to only order 1 gang per ship.

If that is the case, at least PMA will no longer be able to blame the ILWU for the slowdown.

Happy New Year to both sides, now git er done.

 

Today just before noon, the ILWU responded to PMA’s request for federal mediation.

ILWU-news-release-on-negotiations-Dec.-29-2014

Big Bob’s big move is to ask to negotiate with the PMA Board of Directors. Wow.

Does he not understand that in the world of big time negotiations; they field their team and you field yours?

Which one of the Directors would he like to talk with, because they will all say the same thing as their representative, Jim McKenna?

Does he not get it? The message will be the same no matter who delivers it.

Time for the PMA to get on with it, unless they want to dance with Big Bob for 2 years like the Grain Employers.

Unfortunately, apparently PMA is content to play footsy with the ILWU, based on their response to the above news release.

PMA-Renews-Call-for-Federal-Mediation

PMA can renew their call for Federal Mediation till the cows come home, it ain’t going to happen.

PMA Employers are still making lots on money and so are the longshoremen.

What will it take to get PMA to make the next move, and implement or lockout and bring this to conclusion?

Implementation, sounds very reasonable based on PMA’s “no takeaways” robust compensation package.

What are they waiting for? Permission from the ILWU?

 

The PMA employers will gladly tell everyone who will listen how much money is paid to longshoremen, both in wages and in benefits.

Will the employers tell us how much money is being spent to to install the computer driven equipment?

I bet they are spending billions to save millions. The same old story, lose a little on each sale but make it up in volume.

How much is being added to the cost of transportation because of the money they are spending to get rid of the ILWU?

Why does no one question the “need” to automate the docks?

Seems like a bunch of MBAs hard at work, trying to justify their huge salaries. How much do they make?

 

If the negotiations were not secret, businesses involved would be able to assess risk and make alternative plans, but that is not the way that PMA and the ILWU wanted it.

PMA (The Employers) agreed to keep everything secret.

PMA has let the ILWU dictate the pace and demeanor to the negotiation, because the PMA management does not know what they are doing.

The PMA member companies are screwing their customers by choosing to deny them the information they need to conduct business. It is no wonder they are pissed off.

The Wall Street Journal has now jumped into the fray, claiming the ILWU is stealing Christmas.

With out the PMA’s assistance the ILWU would not be doing what they are doing.

We will have to wait to see what Big Bob has in mind, because PMA has nothing, nada, zip.

How about a change at the top of PMA?

 

It dawned on me while eating my Thanksgiving kosher turkey, maybe no information about what is being discussed in San Francisco is leaking out, because they are not talking about anything.

It is like they are sitting around trying to pick fly shit out of pepper.

What could they possibly be talking about, that is so complicated, that they have been unable to figure it out in the last 6 months?

Either they are really good at keeping secrets, if so that is impressive, or they are actually talking about nothing.

Well, the paper bag is wet, and they are back negotiating again today.

Come on boys, git er done.