April 22, 2013
By Harold Daggett International President, International Longshoremen's Association
The institution of collective bargaining is the most effective mechanism to accomplish equity for workers and employers in the workplace. The process of negotiations enables the parties–both labor and management–to review their areas of differences and, ultimately, come to an agreement and understanding.
This past year the leadership of the ILA devoted a great deal of time and energy on a multitude of issues in the industry. Issues that included automation, wages, pensions, working conditions, chassis work preservation, safety and productivity.
The year-long dialogue between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, the New York Shipping Association and the Metropolitan Marine Maintenance Contractor's Association with the assistance of George Cohen, Director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service resulted in the successful completion of a collective bargaining agreement that was overwhelmingly approved by the membership.
In the current world of problematic relationships between employers and employees, this settlement is no small task.
We look forward to working with management in the years ahead administering this agreement.
