Negotiations Breakdown, ILWU Threatened by Navy Strikebreakers

After working all week, with concessions from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, talks broke down this morning between the union and the employer. The union refused to renew the day-to-day contracts that have been used since July 1st because the PMA suddenly demanded adjustments to the union's arbitration rules. The PMA also broke its promise to use union labor when computer tracking technology is introduced to container shipping ports. The ILWU is one of the most militant and progressive unions in the country and is facing threats from the Bush Administration that U.S. Navy dockworkers will break the strike if necessary. The breakdown in talks means the union can legally begin workplace actions like slowdowns but it also shows how confident the Pacific Maritime Association. Listen to the complete story with interviews with Steven Stallone, Communications Director for the ILWU; and Jack Suite, Director of Contracts Administration for the the Pacific Maritime Association. 5:59 minutes, 4.1MB, mp3 format.

This story originally aired on KPFA's Weekend News at 6PM Pacific Standard Time at 94.1 FM, Sunday, September 1, 2002. Please visit http://www.kpfa.org to find out more about Pacifica Radio and the country's first listener sponsored radio station.

Paz y solidaridad!