MM&P Salutes Election of ILA President To AFL-CIO Executive Board; Vows Solidarity and Renewed Commitment To ILWU-Rejection by Trumka of "Solidarity Charters" For ILWU "defies logic"

MM&P Salutes Election of ILA President To AFL-CIO Executive Board; Vows Solidarity and Renewed Commitment To ILWU-Rejection by Trumka of "Solidarity Charters" For ILWU "defies logic"

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International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) President Harold Daggett has been elected to the AFL-CIO Executive Council. MM&P President Don Marcus called the news “an encouraging sign,” although he underlined the fact that recent events, in particular those that precipitated the withdrawal of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) from the AFL-CIO, highlight “the urgent need for the federation to reaffirm its commitment to maritime labor.”

MM&P is the marine affiliate of the ILA. Both unions partner with the ILWU, the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, the Inland Boatmen’s Union and the American Radio Association in the Maritime Labor Alliance (MLA), which was formed last year to protect the working conditions and jurisdictional rights of members.

ILWU President and MLA Co-Founder Robert McEllrath announced earlier this month that the ILWU had decided to withdraw from the AFL-CIO, in part because of the federation’s unwillingness to address jurisdictional raiding on the waterfront. “It is inexplicable that AFL-CIO leadership did not attempt to fully address the concerns of the ILWU,” Marcus said. He called the result “particularly ironic” in view of the ILWU’s traditional stance “at the vanguard of American labor in the campaign for social justice and the defense of workers’ rights, which epitomizes the role of a labor union.”

MM&P is also expressing grave concern over a report that “Solidarity Charters,” which have been granted by the AFL-CIO to other non-AFL-CIO unions such as the Teamsters and the SEIU, would not be granted to the ILWU. “That report, if it is true, defies logic,” Marcus said, adding, “The withdrawal of the ILWU from the AFL-CIO will be a further loss to the U.S. labor movement as thousands of ILWU activists will no longer be allowed to participate in state and local councils of the federation.”

“MM&P stands in solidarity with every member of the ILWU whether inside or outside the AFL-CIO,” the MM&P President said. “At a time when labor generally and maritime labor in particular is under attack, we will redouble our efforts of mutual support. The election of Harold Daggett to the executive council of the AFL-CIO will give maritime labor a strong and effective voice at the highest level of the AFL-CIO. At the same time, MM&P's commitment to the ILWU, the Inland Boatmen's Union and the other Maritime Labor Alliance unions will not change."