Contract Summary

MANAGEMENT PROPOSAL
THE TRUTH
Wages: >>>>
  • $4 over 6 years for workers currently over $21 with no bridge to top rate
  • $7 over 6 years for workers currently under $21 with no bridge to top rate.
  • All new workers enter at $16 with no bridge to catch up to any of the tiers ahead of them.
What does this mean?... MORE INEQUALITY
  • The employers widen the wage gap for workers doing the same work. The employers will undecut senior workers for the bottom tier.
  • In 2010, new workers will still earn $16 with no way to earn top pay.
  • What happens to us when the cost of living goes up?
  • USMX has billions in profit, we all deserve a living wage.
Health Care & Retirement (MILA):>>>>
  • 3 tiers in benefits plans. For example, work less than 999 hours? You'll get 50% coverage or none at all.
  • A reduction in benefits, including increased co-pays and deductibles for all plans. For example, $500 deductible on drug plan.
  • Increase the age and service requirements to receive MILA benefits when you retire. For those longshore workers currently eligible for pension benefits who retire early, no health care before 58 and only 70% coverage until 62 years old.
  • $731.4 million projected deficit in plan during contract.
What does this mean?...A CUT IN BENEFITS
  • Those of us who earn less will pay more for health care while getting less benefits.
  • This contract virtually eliminates retirement health benefits. You'll have to retire at an older age. Just when you need medical coverage, you'll get less or none.
  • Of the $1.2 billion for this contract, over 60% is for MILA. Why is there still a projected deficit? MILA is not working. We must restructure it.
Container Royalty: >>>>
  • Increase in tonnage caps for the royalty funds. No increase to the individual royalty caps.
  • The permanent tier in the royalty continues.
What does this mean?...NO IMPROVEMENTS
  • The $16,5000 for workers who entered the industry before 1996 stays the same. No increase in the individual cap.
  • Why do new workers not deserve equal container royalties?
New Technology: >>>>
  • The union agrees in principle to the use of new technology, regardless of intent.
  • The employers must discuss new technology with the union and arbitrate the new technology if there is a disagreement.
  • The employer is not obligated to guarantee jobs and pay of those workers replaced by new technology.
  • The employer must retrain workers but the language does not specify what that retraining is, nor does it specify the pay of the workers during retraining.
What does this mean?...
FEWER JOBS, HARDER WORK
  • This contract language has loop holes so large they can drive a Transtainer though them. The employers will implement new technology without protection for workers' jobs and health and safety.
  • There is no Guaranteed Annual Income (GAI) for those replaced. During containerization in the 60's & 70's we had a GAI. New technology cold not destroy workers lives. Employers could not arbitrarily replace us. Why not now while our industry is growing?
  • The West Coast continues to fight job loss because of new technology. So should we. Their contract has strong technology language. It guarantees jobs and prevents the employers from replacing workers (Pacific Coast Longshore and Clerk' Agreement, 11/23/02).
Settle Early >>>>
  • The employers say they will move work to the West Coast if we don't settle now.
  • They claim the West Cost allows the use of new technology and has guaranteed peace for 6 years and is more competitive.
  • The employers claim that a fair contract for East Coast longshore workers will mean that we lose work to other ports.
What does this mean?... SELL OUT
  • Why should we allow our employers to divide us and pay us less for the same work done by West Coast?
  • Volume has increased on both coasts. This means more work, not less. The rail and truck lines between the West and East Coast are maxed out (NYTimes 3/31/04). They can't ship more cargo from Asia on rail and truck to our markets on the East Coast. They have to come to our ports.
  • With the holiday season right before our contract expires, why would we agree to a contract that does not guarantee us a better future? The west coast signed a 6-year contract that keeps health care, raises wages has no permanent tiers and preserves work.... So should we!
WE HAVE THE POWER... VOTE NO!
Phone: 843-830-4471   Email:
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