Bosses Don't Choose Unions, Workers Do

[3Mudbone1]

Tacoma local 23 officials have been running roughshod over their own members for years now! They have little cliques and if you are a part of one, you get represented! L. 23 is losing lawsuits big time by their own members and it is ONLY THE BEGINING! Conrad Smell and his boys have virtually zero integrity and do nothing but lie! Unions were formed in the 30s to combat the totalitarian gangster thug employers who treated employess very inconsistantly. Local 23 treats their own members MUCH worse

[bucko60]

unions = forced socialism

[NYPDmos]

Long-shoremen are skilled labor - this is apples and oranges - todays unions are destroying this country and these jobs will go overseas. Decent salary for a security guard? This will only lead to TSA taking over these jobs - these security guards will be working in Wal-Mart before you know it. Why not get and education and take a law enforcement exam?

[Acumensch]

Exactly how are longshore and port security jobs moving "overseas"? These jobs are specific to the Port of Tacoma, so unless trade activity drops, jobs are staying.

[unitedaid]

awesome!

jason c. waite

denton, tx

[HrsaILA]

Maersk managed to get an automated terminal opened here in the hampton roads area. They use Automated Yard RMGs which cost hundreds of good jobs to machines. MAERSK SUCKS!

[djpdx1]

These guys are trying to join ILWU local 28 which represents ONLY security officers. The jobs are not difficult to get. They would be unionized Securitas employees-they don't lose their jobs. They are far and away the lowest paid employees on the harbor and they want only a decent paycheck, benefits and job protection. From a billion dollar shipper. How sad that people criticize THEM!

[GaryBrownILWU]

I boned the cleaning lady

[daveantd1971]

i be you did

[omikse18]

Here's the true facts...

-This is an APM Terminal, not a Maersk Terminal...APMT is strictly a stevedoring company which is part of AP Moller Group

-Maersk is a customer of this facility along with Horizon Lines

-This is neither the Maersk or APMT headquarters of North America...Maersk's headquarters are in Madison, NJ and APMT's headquarters are in Charlotte, NC

-The Tacoma Terminal was built and renovated for the Alaska trade

-There is no such thing as a "Maersk Union"

[Acumensch]

You're right about the terminal. However, they do show the same logo, so I was misled. As far as the union goes, I don't think anyone said on this video that there was a Maesrk Union. But I'm sure people would think that. This has to do with the security union, Securitas.

[omikse18]

They mention a "Maersk Union" numerous times in the video and the write-up with the video...however, I know what they are trying to get at. Securitas is simply a contractor. Legally, they cannot be unionized. What the ILWU is trying to do here is basically force APMT Tacoma to break their contract with Securitas, therefore forcing those security employees out of jobs, and then replace the security duties with ILWU members. Lets remember, its very hard to become an ILWU member.

[Acumensch]

The security workers are supposed to join a company union, which they explained in the video. But that union works too closely with management. The point is that they should be allowed to join a union of their choice.

[omikse18]

If this group picketing took the time to speak with Securitas and the guards that work at this facility, they would have learned that they do get paid abover poverty level (well above) and they do get all of the benefits that the people in the video said they didn't. There is also no "choice of union" here...the only choice they would have is the ILWU. The real issue here is with people focusing their efforts on something they have no clue about. TID

[Acumensch]

JwJ was speaking with Securitas. And the workers have voted against the company union because of the things mentioned. What do you have against them joining the ILWU? You sound like one of their management reps.

[omikse18]

Its not necessarily the issue with unionizing...it is the tactics involved. It is obvious that you do not work in this industry or have any idea of how it works. Sail a merchant ship or work a dock before you go protesting for something. The maritime industry is one of the highest paid industries in this country. You should be focusing your efforts on Wal-Mart or some anit-war/anti-Bush rhetoric that you seem to know more about.

[Acumensch]

What tactics? Why would someone need to sail a merchant ship in order to protest? That's entirely arbitrary. Why don't you cite some of your statistics.

[omikse18]

fyi...sailing union member

[djpdx1]

We are not longshore but employees of the Ports of Portland, Oregon and Tacoma, Washington. We also represent the Portland Convention Center and Kaiser Permenante security officers. We are the "Protective Service Workers" and we represent only security officers. The "company shop" that poorly represented, and abused these poor officers, was thrown out and they now want to join the ILWU, the principal dock workers union. What is wrong with that? Better pay, benefits, and job security. Period.

[chang1977]

These people are proof of the ignorance of liberal union members.  Most of the comments made are completely false and they just look like asses to any educated person.

[BlackSunsu]

Hey, I worked at APM right at this very gate.

1002 Milwaukee Way....STAND UP!!!

[Acumensch]

This video was shown on 15+ public access channels in the US last week. The television show is called "Indymedia Presents" and it plays every Wednesday at 8:30pm in the Seattle area on channels 72 and 29.

[amsterdam78]

IWW! In Solidarity Brothers!

[BobCubTAC]

Interesting to watch this! I used to work at that site as a security guard before Securitas got the Maersk contract. In fact, I was stationed right there at Gate 3A during graveyard shift! I switched sites before the contract switched. Anyway, I support the guards there and wish them success!

[bikecrasher]

Who was giving the Hitler puppet a rusty trombone?

[ladysolidarity]

Great Action!

[prolitarian]

outstanding vid.Build millitant unionism.IWW

[legendline]

Great vid, thanks for being out there.  Could you include dates of actions in your descrip?

[Liface]

Excellent presentation Joe!

[143tbone]

Fantastic job of reporting!

[NotSoOldHippy]

Very, very interesting. Working hard for a poverty wage is at least more than the MAJORITY of the people of the world have. More than half of the world's populace go hungry daily and have it far worse than these workers -- who should be glad that they at least have jobs in another Republican fascist State economy. I'm conflicted why people strike because I always think people don't know just how fortunate they are to have jobs at all.

[prolitarian]

the employing class needs us, we don't need them. don't grovel, organize.