The ILWU reached a landmark agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) on Saturday, November 23, 2002, that will benefit workers, the shipping industry, consumers and our economy. ILWU leaders say the contract is a winwin for West Coast ports, workers and nation’s consumers.

The agreement is subject to ratification by the ILWU Longshore Division Caucus and a secret ballot vote of ILWU registered longshore workers and marine clerks conducted by the Union under its established procedures. The Longshore Caucus, a representative assembly of delegates from all locals on the West Coast, is scheduled to meet in San Francisco the week of December 9-13. Membership ratification votes are expected to be completed soon after that meeting.

This landmark agreement is a victory for longshore workers and their families, and a win-win for business, labor and our national economy,” said James Spinosa, ILWU International President. “We worked in good faith with PMA and succeeded in bringing new technology to our ports while achieving vital pension and economic security, strong health care benefits and safety protections for our workers and their families. This is a momentous day for our Union.”

Worker Protection

For more than 40 years, the ILWU has worked hand-in-hand with management to bring new technology to our nation’s ports. The ILWU looks forward to working with PMA in making West Coast ports even more efficient and profitable through the new technology enhancements in this contract. And, as part of this agreement, the ILWU has secured critical pension protection for its workers and retirees. The ILWU has historically fought for pension security and this issue was a top priority in these negotiations. The bottom line is that the increased efficiency and cost savings resulting from the technology improvements in this contract now rightfully result in pension protection for ILWU members and their families.

Other key components of the agreement include sound and secure health care benefits for longshore workers and their families, increased wages and important new safety provisions that will help protect workers on the docks. Longshore workers risk their lives daily in the country’s second most hazardous profession. Already this year, five workers have died on the job. Going to work shouldn’t be a life or death matter and this agreement helps ensure that workers are at reduced risk of injury and deadly harm.

Finally, this new six-year contract brings much needed stability to the shipping industry. U.S. ports and waterways handle more than 2 billion tons of cargo each year. Earlier this week at the National Industrial Transportation League meeting in Anaheim , ILWU emphasized its commitment to achieving common ground with the shipping industry to help strengthen our economy. This —continued on page 8

ILWU President Jim Spinosa signs the tentative agreement reached with the Pacific Martime Association as union negotiators look on.