International Longshore and Warehouse Union

International Longshore and Warehouse Union is a labor union that represents workers in the United States and Canada, primarily in the longshore and warehousing industries. The union has a long and complex history, dating back to the early 20th century, with roots in the Industrial Workers of the World and the Congress of Industrial Organizations. The union has been involved in numerous high-profile disputes and negotiations, including the West Coast waterfront strike of 1934 and the Pacific Maritime Association lockout of 2002. The union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO and has worked closely with other unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union.

● History

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union was formed in 1937 by Harry Bridges, a Australian-born labor leader who had previously been involved with the Industrial Workers of the World and the Congress of Industrial Organizations. The union's early years were marked by struggles with the Shipping Association of the Pacific Coast and the Pacific Maritime Association, as well as with the National Labor Relations Board and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The union played a key role in the West Coast waterfront strike of 1934, which involved workers from San Francisco to Seattle and resulted in significant gains for longshore workers. The union has also been involved in other notable labor disputes, including the Oakland general strike of 1946 and the San Francisco general strike of 1934, and has worked with other unions, such as the United Farm Workers and the National Farmers Union.

● Organization

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union is headquartered in San Francisco and has a complex organizational structure, with local unions and regional councils representing workers in different parts of the United States and Canada. The union is led by a president and a executive board, which are elected by the union's membership, and has a number of different departments and committees that focus on issues such as organizing, collective bargaining, and worker education. The union is also affiliated with a number of other labor organizations, including the AFL-CIO, the Canadian Labour Congress, and the International Transport Workers' Federation, and has worked with other unions, such as the United Steelworkers and the International Union of Operating Engineers.

● Activities and Disputes

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has been involved in a number of high-profile activities and disputes in recent years, including a lockout by the Pacific Maritime Association in 2002 and a strike against the Port of Oakland in 2013. The union has also been involved in disputes with other employers, such as the SSA Marine and the TraPac, and has worked with other unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union, to organize workers and improve working conditions. The union has also been involved in a number of community outreach and social justice initiatives, including efforts to support workers' rights and environmental protection in the United States and Canada, and has worked with organizations such as the Sierra Club and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

● Membership and Leadership

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has a diverse membership of over 40,000 workers, including longshore workers, warehouse workers, and other transportation workers. The union's membership is represented by a number of different local unions and regional councils, which are led by elected officials and have a significant amount of autonomy. The union's leadership includes Robert McEllrath, who served as president from 2006 to 2018, and William Adams, who has served as president since 2018. The union has also been led by other notable figures, including Harry Bridges and Louis Goldblatt, and has worked with other labor leaders, such as Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta.

● Collective Bargaining Agreements

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has negotiated a number of collective bargaining agreements with employers in the longshore and warehousing industries, including the Pacific Maritime Association and the SSA Marine. These agreements have resulted in significant gains for workers, including improved wages, benefits, and working conditions. The union has also negotiated agreements with other employers, such as the TraPac and the Evergreen Marine, and has worked with other unions, such as the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union, to negotiate industry-wide agreements. The union's collective bargaining agreements are often cited as models for other labor unions, and have been studied by scholars at institutions such as Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley.