The Bible clearly states that a “laborer is worth his wages” in 1 Timothy 5:18. In the spirit of that scripture, I will take the liberty of stretching that verse to mean that a laborer is also worth his struggle.
The western waterfront of the United States is breathing a collective sigh of relief this weekend as dozens of ships up and down the coast prepare to berth and thousands of men and women plan to work them. The long and frustrating nine months of negotiations between us – the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and our employer – the Pacific Maritime Association – appear to have finally ended.
The battle is won, but the war shall continue.
The battle involved intricate work-related issues pertaining to equipment, jurisdiction, manning, safety, training, and other matters related to daily operations on maritime terminals along the west coast.
The war is much more complex and involves direct attacks on workers and labor unions, and indirect attacks on families, communities, big and small businesses, and local and national economies.
To everyone involved in this unprecedented situation which captivated the attention of the world, I humbly offer a few remarks with hope that you will understand and see things for what they truly are. These are my personal opinions, based on my personal experiences.
To our ILWU international and local officers, and to the coast-wide negotiating teams:
THANK YOU. Even though we do not know everything that went on during negotiations, and even though we do not understand the rationale behind some of the decisions that were made, we do appreciate your perseverance and we really did have your back on the front lines.
To our own rank and file:
We are a family like so many families the world over. We laugh together, we cry together, we fight together (and sometimes with each other), but at the end of every day, we are still FAMILY and we STAND TOGETHER. In spite of the dissention amongst us, the differences about us, and the diversity within us, we have proven that we cannot be divided because WE ARE ONE. Let us be humbled by this experience. Some of us are slightly bruised, but all of us are far from beaten.
To our employer, PMA:
I am actually at a temporary loss for words at this moment. I’ve been sitting here for a couple of minutes leaning back in my chair with my hands interlocked, staring at the cursor blinking on my screen, not knowing exactly what to say. That does not happen often. I will come back to you once I address others and further process my thoughts. Stand by on health and safety because if I write what I am really thinking at this moment, both my health and the safety of this post might be compromised.
To our fellow brothers and sisters from other labor unions:
Our contract is just one contract in a plethora of many contracts that WE MUST ALL UNITE TO ACHIEVE. Forget the details of each MOU and remember what you are actually negotiating each time you arrive at that table…THE PRESERVATION AND THE PROTECTION OF QUALITY JOBS THAT WILL ENABLE EVERY WORKER TO ENJOY THE QUALITY LIFE WE ALL DESERVE. When it comes to our mutual goals, our union is no better and no different than your union. But, we are BETTER TOGETHER.
To non-union workers everywhere:
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU UNITE. This is what you get when you join forces with coworkers at your job and within your industry. The struggle is not easy and it is not quick, but the victory is so worth it, not just for YOU, but for EVERYONE. Organize today for a better tomorrow. The future of your jobs, your families, and your communities depend on it.
To every worker (union or non-union) everywhere:
Do not let your labor be in vain. Work toward SOMETHING other than a paycheck. Fight to become a vested interest in the industry you serve. Stand up to unfair employers TOGETHER with your coworkers, with dignity. There is strength in numbers. Remember the old adage, if you are not at the table, you are probably on the menu. Workers are under attack everywhere. Good jobs are being outsourced to foreign countries all the time. Humans are being replaced by machines. Take pride in your work, do your job well, and protect the future of your industry. Participate, volunteer, and vote. Let your voice be heard. Educate yourself and empower others. If God has blessed you with a talent, use that gift to help people and improve lives.
To every employer, everywhere in the world:
Stop exploiting the workers who make you profits and watch your profits increase. Invest in your employees and in the communities where you are located. Forgo that fifth vacation home and implement a training program for youth in partnership with surrounding schools. Think outside the box without takings jobs outside this country. Recruit workers from your immediate community and pay them well so they can in turn invest in their own neighborhoods. Your business is only as good as your workforce. Your success is 100% contingent upon your workers.
To the communities where we live and work:
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for your support during these difficult times. You stood by us in spite of the false accusations that were made because YOU KNOW US. We are vested in our communities up and down the coast and we take pride in the work that we do to keep them thriving. We care about you and it was very nice to see that you care about us.
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