This article makes it sound like the ILWU’s debacle with the Pacific Northwest Grain negotiations is the beginning of the end for the powerful West Coast longshoremen’s union. https://t.co/6eBCUhhTIK
What were Big Bob and Leal Sundet thinking when they gave up the Dispatch Hall?
The ILWU has controlled the Dispatch Halls on the entire West Coast of the United States since the Arbitrator’s decision gave it to them in 1934. Sure it says in the PCLCD that the PMA and the ILWU have equal control, but in practice the ILWU has the day to day control of their Dispatch Halls.
In an effort to gain a hand full of jobs for his home Local, Big Bob gave Export Grain Terminal (EGT) “the sole authority to hire and fire” and even to bring in replacement workers in case of a strike.
No wonder the operators of the Pacific Northwest region’s other grain export terminals have not agreed to a new Agreement for the last 2 years; they want the same deal as EGT.
It is looking more and more like Big Bob could not negotiate his way out of a wet paper bag.
No wonder PMA is standing pat, if they play their cards right, they might be able to get what they lost in 1934; their Dispatch Halls.
Big Bob, that light you see at the end of the tunnel is actually a train. Look out.