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World Conference of Workers
In Defense of Trade Union Independence & Democratic Rights
Statement by AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard L. Trumka On President Bush's Unprecedented Decision to Seek A Taft-Hartley Injunction
October 8, 2002
This is the first time in the history of the United States that a
President has let an employer lock out workers in an extended quest to
undermine the workers' union-creating a phony crisis-and then reward that
employer's action with government intervention. It is a tragedy with
historic ramifications.
And it is not only a tragedy but an outrage that the decision by the White
House to intervene came even though the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA),
which negotiates for west coast shippers and port terminal operators, had
just rejected the Bush Administration's call to end their lock out of
dockworkers at the port and extend the workers' contract for 30 days while
bargaining continues- in lieu of a Taft-Hartley injunction. The
dockworkers and their union had agreed to the Bush Administration's
request for a contract extension today.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) members have wanted
to work all along-they never went on strike-and they have asked to unload
the ships while they ironed out their differences with their employer.
Early in the process, the Bush Administration threatened to use the
military to operate the ports and threatened to invoke Taft-Hartley-thus
strengthening the employers' hand in bargaining and giving the Pacific
Maritime Association little incentive to bargain in good faith.
The basic issue is neither wages nor benefits. Dockworkers make a good
living. The issue is making sure that those jobs remain good jobs-union
jobs that support families and are good for the community. Dockworkers
agreed to technology that would increase productivity, and the ILWU has
asked that any new jobs created have the protection of an ILWU contract so
that the workers have a voice on the job through their union. But the PMA
has steadfastly refused.
The two parties' issues are bridgeable. But it will take fair and equal
discussion-hopefully, the Bush's early intervention in the process has not
poisoned the waters too much for the parties to be able to reach a
compromise.
For Information Release Contact: Lane Windham 202-637-5018