ILA Rolls Stones to 2012

Joseph Bonney | Nov 18, 2009 4:02PM GMT

“You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well, you just might find you get what you need.” That line was used by the British philosopher Mick Jagger in a different context, but it could apply to the results of the just-ratified contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance.

To sell the contract to his members, ILA President Richard Hughes needed to show wage increases, progress in narrowing gaps between wage tiers, an end to caps on carriers’ container royalty payments, and stronger contract language on technology and union jurisdiction. He got all of those things.

Container carriers, which dominate USMX’s membership, needed a contract that didn’t pile on extra costs at a time when they’re losing billions globally. They got it, in an agreement that pushes the next negotiations far enough down the road to give the economy a chance to recover.

Shippers needed a deal that would spare them from having to make contingency plans to deal with a possible strike next fall after the existing ILA contract expires. They got it, and must be relieved to have this measure of certainty in an uncertain economy.

ILA members needed a contract that would give them a chance to earn a middle-class living. They didn’t get everything they wanted (in true negotiations, no one ever does), but the deal provides wage increases that, especially for less-experienced workers, are substantial.

If there’s anyone that didn’t get what they needed, it was the Longshore Workers Coalition, an activist group that campaigned against the contract but was on the losing end of a 2-to-1 ratification vote.

LWC complaints about the contract apparently failed to offset ILA members’ desire for hard cash in the form of wages and benefits. Coalition leaders predict that the contract’s back-loading of wage increases and carrier-paid container royalties will put those issues back on the table when negotiations begin on the next contract in a couple of years.

If that happens, the coalition will have an issue it needs to try to rally ILA members. But maybe by then, a recovering economy will produce healthier cargo volumes – something the entire industry needs.

Contact Joseph Bonney at jbonney@joc.com.

The average full time ILA worker, not casuals etc. with overtime etc is at those figures, check the reports between the union and employers.
ILWU is much higher.

- By Kingston4811 on 11/19/09

So, the ILA claims that they want to narrow the gap between top and lower wage tiers. But first, they voted to increase the gap by another dollar an hour. Ridiculous!

Of course, no matter what the vote was "reported" to be, this was a done deal all the way,
and the "ratification" was just for show.

- By waterfrontjoe on 11/18/09

Kingston4811........I don't know where you received your false information.... I have been in the indusrty for three years and average close to 26k a year. There are some exceptions to the rule about the 90k, but far in between. I know for a fact most men with over 25 or more years don't make that kind of loot.

- By Boom-Up on 11/18/09

Interesting choice of words: ILA members needed a contract that would give them a chance to earn a middle class living.
The last figures I saw said that the average ILA worker made slightly over $90,000. a year plus a considerable benefit package. If that was the starting point of negotiations and they just wanted a "chance" to make a middle class income, I would think lot's of people would like a chance at joining the ILA.

- By Kingston4811 on 11/18/09