ITF Dockers News.

Tentative deal reached for longshoremen at Port of New York

http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/8651 

14 March 2013

The ITF is reacting with cautious optimism to news that a tentative six-year labour agreement has been reached for workers at the Port of New York.

ITF-affiliated union the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA), which represents dock workers in New York and New Jersey, has been in negotiations with the New York Shippers Association for several months over a local contract. 

Talks between the ILA and management have fostered the deal on regional working rules and other local issues, which is said to still be in need of some ‘refinement’.

The deal is potentially of significance as it is part of a series of larger talks between the ILA and the US Maritime Alliance of shippers, terminal operators and port authorities. The ILA was forced to threaten strike action during months of tense negotiations over a new master contract for dock workers, before a tentative deal on pay and working conditions was finally reached last month. This is due to be ratified at union committee in Florida.

The master contract is dependent on agreements, like the one in New York, being made in all 15 of the individual ports on the East and Gulf Coast which have ILA representation.

ILA president Harold J. Daggett said: “This deal isn’t written in stone yet but after some tough negotiations it does bring us much closer to where we want to be. With the master contract nearing ratification, securing agreements which properly address the local issues which longshoremen and women have is now the focus for us. Every port is different and these local agreements need to reflect that.”

Automation conference aims to address ‘most controversial issue in stevedoring industry’

http://www.itfglobal.org/news-online/index.cfm/newsdetail/8649

14 March 2013

Preparations are underway for the first ITF conference focusing exclusively on automation in the port industry.

Dockers’ union representatives from around the world are set to attend the event in Sydney at the end of April, which will aim to address what ITF president Paddy Crumlin has called the ‘most controversial issue in the stevedoring industry’. The Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), of which Mr. Crumlin is the national secretary, is currently involved in a high level dispute with port operator Patricks over plans to automate on a large scale at Port Botany in Sydney. It is the stance of the ITF that automation cannot be imposed in the absence of negotiation and consultation with unions and that it must not be used as an opportunity to cull workforces.

ITF dockers’ section secretary Sharon James said: “Dockers’ unions are not afraid of the future – workers and their communities have at least as big a stake as the employers.  We are meeting in Sydney to discuss how we should face the challenges and opportunities that automation brings, to develop strategies to ensure that workers share in the benefits and are able to shape a socially just approach to the introduction of new technologies in their workplaces.  We are determined that automation will not be used as a means to break or reduce the power of unions.”

Affiliates will have the opportunity to hear about the experiences of unions in ports where automation is already in place like Rotterdam, Netherlands. It’s hoped that through the conference and with the input and feedback of affiliates, the ITF will be able to develop a consistent outline approach to automation, which unions can then apply in line with their own regional and local situations.