The rank-and-file members of the ILWU make the policies that direct the work of the International union. This democratic duty of ILWU members is done once every three years at a five-day Convention. The 35th International Convention was held this year from June 4 - 8 at the Del Coronado Hotel on Coronado Island in San Diego, California.
The ILWU Convention rotates to one of the seven areas of the ILWU every three years. The last Convention was held in Seattle, Washington in 2009. Hawaii will be hosting the 2015 Convention. The Convention will be held in Oregon in 2018, in Northern California in 2021, and in Canada in 2024.
A total of 305 delegates attended the Convention. Members of ILWU locals in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii and Canada elect the delegates. Local 142 Hawaii sent 113 delegates, representing the largest body of votes to the Convention.
Held at the scenic Hotel Del Coronado, the delegates worked hard for five days and a few evenings making historic decisions. The Convention approved a budget for the next three years adopted 9 constitutional amendments and 38 resolutions. All actions of the International Convention take effect upon adoption by the Convention.
Officers nominated
On June 8, the last day of the Convention, delegates nominated candidates for the union’s titled officers and executive board. International President Robert McEllrath, International Vice President (Hawaii) Wesley Furtado, International Vice President (Mainland) Ray Familathe and International SecretaryTreasurer Willie Adams were nominated and will be running without opposition.
The following candidates were nominated to represent Hawaii on the International Executive Board: Nate Lum (Longshore grouping); Matt Rodriguez (Pineapple grouping); Elmer Gorospe (General Trades grouping); Donna Lee Oyamot-Maeha (Tourism grouping). Esther Manibog and Wesley Bissen were nominated to represent Sugar grouping and will face a run-off election to determine the winner
Other ILWU areas also nominated their candidates for the International Executive Board, but those candidates will not appear on the Hawaii ballot. The International Election is conducted by mail and Hawaii members should receive ballots for the International Election in July.
Automation means, “Take away your jobs”
President Bob McEllrath invited President of the International Longshoremen’s Association, Harold Daggett to address the Convention on Wednesday morning, June 6. Daggett, a third generation longshoreman, was elected as President of the ILA, last year. The ILA is our sister union that represents 30,000 dockworkers on the East Coast, Gulf Coast, Eastern and Central Canada, Great Lakes and inland waters. Dagget shared with the Convention the tense negotiations taking place with the United States Maritime Alliance on a contract to replace the current one, expiring on September 30 of this year. Automation is the most critical issue in the negotiations. “Automation means ‘take away your jobs.’ The companies say they’re going to have new jobs for you, but that’s bull,” Daggett said. “I want manning requirements,” he said in terms of signing a new contract.
Authorizing our president
When President Bob McEllrath delivered his opening remarks, he revealed to the body the failure of the AFL-CIO being present and fighting with the ILWU in the struggle at the Export Grain Terminal, EGT, in Longview, Washington. “But where was the AFL-CIO when the ILWU was fighting for its existence? It was absent. Its leadership was actively asking the state federations in Washington and Oregon NOT to pass resolutions supporting us, calling the International Transport Workers Federation and asking them to stay out of this fight,” said McEllrath. “Is the AFL-CIO part of the solution or part of the problem? Should the ILWU be in or out? I want this decision made before the end of this week. This will be a big historical moment for us.”
The resolution authorizing International President McEllrath to withdraw from the AFL-CIO—if and when he feels it is in the best interest of the ILWU carried the most passionate debate of the entire Convention. Many delegates were tired of the AFL-CIO and its failure to fight.
Others were concerned about leaving the AFL-CIO and what the isolation would do to the union. In the end, it was a unanimous vote to authorize President McEllrath to decide if and when the ILWU should leave the AFL-CIO.
San Francisco Bay Area pensioner, Leroy King, with President Bob McEllrath. “This is the 35th Convention and King has been to every single one of them—a very impressive record, “McEllrath said.
On Wednesday, June 6, 2012, the ILWU stood united and voted unanimously to give President Bob McEllrath the power to tell AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka when enough is enough. This is a historic example of true ILWU leadership and represents the real democracy that lives within the union.
