Constitutional Amendments
C-1 Convention Locations - updates the rotation of the Convention to the seven areas of the ILWU: Southern California Area - 2012; Hawaii Area - 2015; Oregon/Columbia River Area - 2018; Northern California Area - 2021; ILWU Canada - 2024; Washington/Puget Sound/Alaska - 2027; Southern California Area - 2030.
“Whether we pass or fail a resolution, or bring it back and reword it a little, it’s interesting to see the whole process. You’re allowed to speak your heart and speak your voice. Whether you agree or disagree, at the end we’re all the same union.” — Dennis Morton
C-2 Political Action Fund - revises language referring to the “diversion” as that language is no longer appropriate. This is a housekeeping amendment and will have no effect on how the fund is currently operating.
C-3 Titled Officers Salaries - updates titled officers salaries which is based on the average of the percentage increase in the base rate of pay in the ILWU’s three major industries— Longshore, Northern California Warehouse, and Local 142’s major hotel agreements.
C-4 Officers and Staff Pension Plan - updates officers and staff pension plan to match the improvements negotiated in the longshore industry pension plan in 2008.
C-14 International Executive Board Wages - raises daily wages paid to board members attending meetings from $100 to $150 a day. C-17 Revise 30 Percent Organizing Mandate - allows funding up to 30 percent of International union’s income for organizing instead of minimum of 30 percent.
C-20 Creating a Fraternal District Council Delegate - establishes a fraternal delegate from each of the four ILWU District Councils to be funded by the District Councils— Southern California, Northern California, Columbia River, and Puget Sound.
International Affairs
R-1 Establishes Sister Port Solidarity between Sydney, Australia and the Puget Sound Region of the Inlandboatmen’s Union and the ILWU.
R-15 Withdrawal of American Troops from Iraq and Afghanistan and the Reinvestment in the Human Needs of American People - calls for the withdrawal of armed forces from Iraq and Afghanistan; an end to war profiteering; solidarity with Iraqi unions; support of Iraqi labor efforts to protect Iraqi sovereignty over its oil and natural resources; reversal of federal funding priority on war; restoration of civil and human rights suspended in the “war against terror”; build a network of union members who are veterans or in
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Star Medeiros told the Convention how her mother, Edwina Smythe, was the first woman elected to the International Executive Board in 1981. Gender bias continues to create a glass ceiling which holds women back on the job.
A week of hard work, unity and solidarity—continued from page 2
never adhered to that belief. And the reasons are simple: the question of our welfare, our own interests, our own existence.”
The Convention called for the withdrawal of troops from Iraq and Afghanistan, the end to the Israeli siege of Palestinians in Gaza, free the Cuban 5, normalization of relations with Cuba.
Health Care for
All Health care reform was a big issue and the Convention approved four different resolutions dealing with changing the U.S. health care system. Resolutions called for building a mass movement to support a single payer system like Canada, support of House Resolution 676 for an “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All”, universal coverage where health care is a right of all people, and looking at all alternatives such as the health care systems in Great Britain, Germany or France.
Philbert Secretario, a hotel worker from Maui, told the Convention how he booed union organizers and voted against the union when he was working at the Embassy Suites Hotel. Workers learned a bitter lesson of why they need unions when management later mistreated them and cut jobs.
Political Action
The need to continue union political action, reverse the damage of the Bush Administration, restore civil rights taken away in the name of fighting terrorism, vacate the antilabor policies of the Bush labor board were some of the political goals adopted by the Convention.
The passage of the Employee Free Choice Act by the US Congress must be a major political priority for the ILWU. Members were urged to continue their voluntary contributions to the ILWU Political Action Fund and to work with their political action committees and district councils.
Equality and Civil Rights
Equality and advancing human rights remain core values of the ILWU. The country has come a long way in fighting discrimination and protecting civil rights, but much more needs to be done.
Equal rights for women, immigration reform, worker privacy and abolishing identification cards, abolishing the death penalty were some of the civil and human rights issues that came before the Convention.
Commitment to Organizing
Organizing will remain an important commitment of the International union. To allow more flexibility to deal with economic emergencies, the Convention approved a change that will allow the International union to spend up to 30 percent of the union’s income on organizing.
The previous policy required the International union to reserve 30 percent of the union’s revenues for organizing. This money could not be used for any other purpose except for organizing. There is sufficient money saved in the organizing fund to take care of the needs of the organizing program for the immediate future.
The change in policy will allow the International Union to build up a reserve fund, take care of other programs such as education and international solidarity, and still spend up to 30 percent on organizing if needed.
ILWU Leaders Set Example
A long line of speakers paid tribute to retiring ILWU leaders Richard Cavalli, John Tousseau, and Jack Wyatt, Sr. The democratic, rank-andfile, and progressive culture of the ILWU has produced many great and exceptional union leaders. The speakers spoke about the commitment, integrity, class, dedication, knowledge, and sacrifice of these veteran leaders who dedicated a lifetime to the ILWU. They told the Convention how they learned about union, negotiating with the boss, caring for the membership, taking a stand for what is right.
The Union Budget
The Convention adopted a budget which recognizes the difficult economic times faced by all sections of the union. The budget maintains existing programs of the International at the same levels with small increases to account for expected inflation. It includes a modest increase in per capita dues of $.50 and $.75 cents in 2009, ten cents in 2010, and no increase in 2011. The $.75 cent increase is on those locals whose members earn more than $90,000 a year.
The increase in the International’s per capita dues will not be passed on to members of Local 142 Hawaii. Local 142 pays the International per capita dues directly out of its general fund.
The Convention approved an increase in the Titled Officers’ salaries, but due to the financial hardships faced by all ILWU locals, the Titled Officers (president, vicepresidents Hawaii and Mainland, and secretary-treasurer) have suspended their May 1, 2009 salary increase.
The ILWU Constitution provides the officers with an annual wage increase based on the average increase in the pay rate of longshore, Northern California warehouse, and Local 142’s major hotel agreements.