Longshore Union Members Win Strike at Alaska Marine Highway System
By late 2018, the Inlandboatmen's
On
In the last negotiations before the new governor took office, the State gave the IBU a "supposal" for a three-year contract which included 31 tentative agreements - contract changes approved and signed by both parties, along with wage increases of 3%, 1%, 1%, and raising workers' share of health insurance premiums to 15%.
The State's offer also included no adjustment to raise wages for crewmembers of the MV Lituya to help them reach parity with workers on other vessels. It also left intact a cost of living differential (COLD) that paid non-resident union members about
Background on health insurance
The State offers workers a choice of a standard plan or economy health insurance plans. Those who couldn't afford the standard plan, which costs members over
State offers a 1-year roll-over
When the IBU returned to bargaining under the new governor, the State offered a one year "rollover" of the contract, meaning no changes to the terms and conditions, no wage increases or health increases. We were agreeable to this idea - until they informed us that all 31 of the tentative agreements were now rescinded and off the table. They said we'd have to re-negotiate each of those in the next contract negotiations, a year out. They also made it very clear that there was no guarantee they would agree to the previously negotiated tentative agreements.
This was unacceptable, so we chose to continue bargaining our contract. We felt the State was only surface bargaining - talking with no real intention of reaching an agreement, so we demanded that they provide us with a written proposal by
Union members vote
Our Negotiations Committee told the State that we could not recommend their proposal but would ask members to vote on it. I rode the MV Columbia as it traveled from
Union goes into mediation
John Fageaux, President of ILWU Local 63-Office Clerical Unit (OCU), joined our negotiations team to lend assistance. We contacted the
Strike after talks broke down
When members voted on the State's final offer, 86% voted to strike. On
When the crew refused to sign, they were ordered to vacate the ship and walked-off at
The MV Kennicott crew had received an intimidating notice from Captain
We had a phone meeting with the crew and they reported that management offered to leave them on the vessel with pay, but the following day they received the same "strike or work" demand letter, and members walked off the ship as directed by the union. The MV Tustumena arrived in
On
"It was amazing to watch some of the passengers of the MV Malaspina get off the ship and join our picket line in
Solidarity rallies were held on
"The last
Resolution and return to work
By
Olvera attended to show their support that afternoon. We went back into mediation and traded proposals until we reached a deal at
We heard them say, what seemed like thousands of times: "What do you want? A fair contract! When do you want it? NOW!" President
A special thank you to everyone who assisted in some way with planning, strategies, political outreach, rallies, messaging and more. Most of all, thank you to our amazing members in
IBU President
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