Ilwu local 502, part of the canadian area, has served the interests of member longshore workers on the fraser river for over sixty years. Ilwu online archive of california california digital library. My timebook app has been designed to be used by longshoremen who work on the waterfront. Over the years, several books have been written about the ilwu. On march 22, 1986 the tacoma local held their first memorial service for the 1886. Longshore leaders touted the contract as a union victory. The plantation system living standards of plantation workers the formation of ilwu local 142 the 1946 sugar strike. While the cruise industry takes a beating over the coronavirus, some passengers disembarking the carnival panorama on sunday morning said whether to book another voyage would be an easy call. Come visit and learn about the ilwu and its history, read about unionism and about the people who unload the ships that come into elliott bay. That provides dockside and shoreside service to the waterfront.
The following year, local 7c signed a four year union shop contract with the canning industry and subsequently became local 37 ilwu. Seattle civil rights and labor history project 1,9 views. International longshoremens and warehousemens union, local 23. International longshoremens and warehousemens union ilwu, local collection. If you are a longshore worker, or a company who deals with the ilwu, and you are getting bullied and pushed around by the thugs currently running the union, give us a call. In 1937 the international longshoremens association local 3892 afl became the international longshoremens and warehousemens union ilwu local 1, the first cio local of the ilwu chartered in the state of washington. Origins of the ilwu warehouse division, 19341938 by schwartz, harvey and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The waterfront workers history project is a program of the university of washington, which. Local 19 of the ilwu is located on the seattle waterfront.
Feb 12, 2015 seattle civil rights and labor history project 1,9 views. A comprehensive and balanced narrative of longshore unionization in tacoma the northwest. A history of seattle waterfront workers, 18841934 was the result, and was published alongside his updated history of the tacoma local, the working longshoremen, in 1991. Tacoma local 23 of the international longshoremens and. One important factor is that local 7 had the power of the union hall. Longshoremen and local historians preserved tacomas waterfront. Why did local 7 succeed against these competing unions despite the constant threat of communist accusations.
The history of the ilwu, the record of its origins and traditions, is about workers who built a union that is democratic, militant and dedicated to the idea that solidarity with other workers and other unions is the key to achieving economic security and a peaceful world. Powells headquarters, dubbed powells city of books, claims to be the largest independent new and used bookstore in the world. Keep track of where youve worked and most importantly, keep track of your hours worked. Jul 23, 2019 local 19 hosts discussion on the ilwus civil rights history posted on march 23, 2018 by ilwu46 in blog sharing history. The history of the ilwu, the record of its origins and traditions, is about workers who built a union that is democratic, militant and dedicated to the idea that solidarity with other workers and other unions is the key to achieving economic. Seattle, tacoma dockworkers earn less than reported. Series x, union history, contains book excerpts, dissertations, essays. In local 4 currently there are 117 class aregistered longshore workers along with 60 class bregistered and about 109 casual part time dockworkers. Tacoma local 23 president scott mason interrupted an ilwu speaker myself to demand that. Prior to that, general ilwu news was published in the voice of the federation, the organ of the maritime federation of the pacific. April 2, 2020 update to worforce on local covid19 status.
The pacific northwest labor history association honors ilwu. Jan 16, 2014 the ilwu local 23 project stands as an excellent example of communitydriven historical work, helping to preserve memories of tacoma that might otherwise have been lost. March inland origins of the ilwu warehouse division, 1934 1938 california. Tacoma local 23 president scott mason interrupted an ilwu speaker myself to demand that president mcellraths letter be read immediately. The office of labormanagement standards olms requires unions to report how they spent their money in a number of categories. Bmen pay a lower collective bargaining fee because of nlrb charges we filed. These dockworkers just showed the labor movement how to. The international longshore and warehouse union, born out of the 1934 west coast maritime and san francisco general strikes under the charismatic leadership of harry bridges, has been known from the start for its strong commitment to democracy, solidarity, and social justice. Ilwu local 142 members also contribute to our communities every day as mothers, fathers, coaches, church and community group leaders, good neighbors and friends. Magden reissued the book in 1991 under the title the working longshormen. The international longshore and warehouse union ilwu is a labor union which primarily represents dock workers on the west coast of the united states, hawaii, and in british columbia, canada. Local 23 is the last major west coast longshore local to affiliate with the ilwu, which was organized in 1937 by harry bridges 19011990. Aug 08, 2012 ron is currently helping seattle local 19 finish its current history book, as well as working with local 23 officers and staff, and the university of washington, to digitize his vast collection of historical photographs and other material related to longshore workers, which will be available online in the future.
Ilwu 23 is the most generous and kind hearted organization. We handed out flyers to longshore workers ilwu 23 as they drove through the gate at tote and also to other port workers as they drove by. History of the 1934 waterfront strike in portland, oregon. Local 4 was chartered with the ilwu on september the 20th 1937. We stood on the four corners at the intersection located between the lng site and totem ocean trailer express tote.
This union is, industrywise, the most diverse union in hawaii. The ilwu longshore struggle in longview and beyond. These dockworkers just showed the labor movement how to shut down fascists. Ilwu credit union was founded in 1954 by local members benny mcdonald, pete moore, and tony arriaga. By the 1930s, tacoma longshore workers had made significant gains. Our motto is an injury to one is an injury to all, and we work hard to improve the lives of all working families in hawaii. The ilwu international began publishing the dispatcher in late 1942 when it became clear that the union needed its own newspaper. Employers lock out longshore workers at west coast ports on. Local 23 is the last major west coast longshore local to affiliate with the ilwu. The importance of strong autonomous local unions on the waterfront is central to the international longshore and warehouse union movement. Powells books is a chain of bookstores in portland, oregon, and its surrounding metropolitan area.
We have a proven history of successfully pushing back against the corrupt thugs running the ilwu. Aug 29, 2008 local 23 is the last major west coast longshore local to affiliate with the ilwu, which was organized in 1937 by harry bridges 19011990. Most dramatically, workers won a 58 percent increase in their employerfunded pensions. The credit union was founded as a financial cooperative to provide a place for longshoremen to cash their paychecks, save, and borrow money at reasonable loan rates. Browse or search through the voice of the federation digital archive, 19351941 the voice of the federation was the newspaper for the maritime federation of the pacific, a consortium of unions that formed in the wake of the 1934 pacific coast waterfront and maritime strikes. Aug 10, 2012 the ilwu longshore struggle in longview and beyond. The ilwu local 23 project stands as an excellent example of communitydriven historical work, helping to preserve memories of tacoma that might otherwise have been lost. Where we work the ilwu local 142 represents over 18,000 workers in different industries islandwide.
The book chronicles over a century of tacomas waterfront history, beginning. Roger boesflug, president of ilwu local 23 at the port of tacoma, called it the richest contract weve ever negotiated gibbs, longshore proposal. It also represents hotel workers in hawaii, cannery workers in alaska, warehouse workers throughout the west and bookstore workers in portland, oregon. It is the story of the international longshore and warehouse union, known worldwide as the ilwu. International longshore and warehouse union wikipedia. It is the story of the international longshore and warehouse union, known. Three decades of militant unionism, second edition. Ilwu local 23 and the washington commission for the humanities, 1991. In 1977, local 23 of the ilwu began preparing a grant proposal in response to a request by the washington. Tacoma longshore workers were the first in washington to form a local union, doing so in march 1886, a few months before seattle dockworkers organized their first local. In the concluding chapter, magden defies those who predict the demise of the longshoremen and looks. International longshoremens and warehousemens union local 1.
Tote is supposedly one of the primary customers of the lng. Ilwu international secretarytreasurer willie adams spoke at local 19s education committee in february. Waterfront workers history university of washington. Ilwu local 142 an injury to one is an injury to all. History the ilwu story oral histories books and videos about.
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