Victory at Payless! Act now to Support Dockworkers.

Your actions made a difference at Payless.  Act now to support locked out dockworkers.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Tell President Bush to Stay out of West Coast Dockworker Negotiations

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am writing today to urge you to tell President Bush not to interfere in the negotiations between the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Authority (PMA) by invoking the Taft-Hartley Act.

West Coast docks are closed today because the PMA has refused to allow dockworkers to do their jobs. The negative effects on our economy could be avoided if the PMA would let their employees come back to work and negotiate fairly with the ILWU. The dockworkers have repeatedly offered to go back to work, but the PMA will not allow them. The PMA has also gone back on an agreement reached with the ILWU last week on new technology. The last offer from the PMA gutted the workers' arbitration and grievance procedure. Five workers have been killed on the docks in just seven months, and the PMA wants to take away workers' ability to speak up when they feel they are being pushed to work in unsafe conditions.

History shows that government intervention will not solve the problem. Prior to 1972, the federal government intervened in 10 disputes on the docks. Whenever the government got involved, the disputes were prolonged and made more difficult to resolve. Furthermore, there is no guarantee that the PMA will not continue to lock workers out after the 'cooling off' period.

It's time for you to send a message to the PMA that they need to end the lockout against their employees. Tell them to negotiate fairly. And most importantly, tell President Bush not to interfere in private negotiations by invoking the Taft-Hartley Act.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
October 04, 2002


Background Information

Struggle Continues on West Coast Docks

Victory at Payless! Your Actions Made a Difference!
After dozens of actions outside Payless stores nationwide and after receiving hundreds of e-mails, the CEO of Payless has sent letters to both the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the West Coast Waterfront Coalition (WCWC) in favor of collective bargaining and against government intervention. Both the PMA and the WCWC have been feeling the pinch from the retail actions all around the country.

One Billion Dollars a Day/Blame the PMA
West Coast Ports are closed because the Pacific Maritime Authority (PMA) won't allow dockworkers to do their jobs. Earlier this week, the PMA imposed a lockout on their employees. The PMA could end the lockout and open the ports today but they refuse to do so. Instead, they are pressuring the Bush administration to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act. The Taft-Hartley Act would require an 80 day "cooling off period." The courts have approved 29 of 31 Presidential Taft-Hartley orders since 1947 and they have all dealt with strikes, not lockouts. The Bush administration has also threatened to use the military to replace the workers. By issuing these threats, the Bush administration and the PMA are not only undermining contract negotiations, they are saying, in essence, that the dockworkers do not have the right to strike. Invoking Taft-Hartley would be a direct attack not only on the ILWU but on all workers.

What Can You Do Now?

  • Retail actions at Crate and Barrel, Talbots and other members of the West Coast Waterfront Coaltion. Gordon Segal, CEO of Crate and Barrel, is chairman of the board of the National Retail Federation, a member of the West Coast Waterfront Coalition. The NRF and the WCWC are asking President Bush to intervene in the lockout.
  • Get your organization to send letters to President Bush and Joseph Miniace, President of the Pacific Maritime Association (make sure you get copies to send to the ILWU)
  • Send an e-mail to your Governors, Congressional Representatives, and Senators urging them to tell President Bush not to invoke Taft-Hartley.
  • If you live in a place where ILWU workers are, talk to the Local Union about how you can help.