Portside

“Seafarers are an invisible link in the global chain and are vulnerable to abuse and exploitation,” Faker said. “Workers in the Port of Tacoma were not going to let this vessel go anywhere while these workers’ lives were in peril.”

Frontline workers are getting blamed for supply chain problems that are caused by the bosses & politicians. Union members say the port terminal operators are trying to to cast longshore workers in a bad light ahead of contract negotiations next year.

Strikes are rare but political strikes are on the agenda more than they have been in many years. Labor Action to Defend Democracy has come together to "plant seeds and stir the pot," and work with community partners to protect the vote.

The plat­form empha­sizes union jobs, afford­able hous­ing, Medicare for All, pub­lic edu­ca­tion and trans­porta­tion, as well as increas­ing tax­es on the rich.

Seafarers were in a precarious situation long before the COVID-19 crisis struck early this year. Many workers are now stranded on ships at sea, and others are afraid to return home for fear of losing their jobs in the future.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) is facing an existential crisis.

The ILWU was fined $93.6 million over a labor dispute in Oregon, a sum which could bankrupt the union. Union President Adams explains that the ILWU will fight the judgement in court and will continue to defend its members, no matter the outcome.

The issue of automation is bigger than the ILWU-PMA contract,” said Herrera, “it’s about the community, the economy and ultimately the future of the middle class.”