ILA, ITF SUPPORT ILWU IN U.S. WEST COAST CONTRACT CONFLICT

ILA, ITF SUPPORT ILWU IN U.S. WEST COAST CONTRACT CONFLICT    The International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents unionized dockworkers on the U.S. East Coast, and the London-based International Transport Workers’ Federation, have publicly expressed their backing for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on the U.S. West Coast.
   The promise of support by other unions of dockworkers suggests that a potential labor conflict on the West Coast could spread to other ports in the United States and overseas.
   The International Transport Workers’ Federation pledged to do “everything possible within legal means” to support the ILWU in the face of what it describes as “provocative behind the scenes moves by the Pacific Maritime Association.”
   The International Transport Workers’ Federation said the ILWU “has alerted it to PMA contingency plans to lock out its members and re-route ships.”
   The ILWU is negotiating with the PMA to renew their three-year labor contract, due to expire on July 1.
   Both the ILWU and the ILA unions are members of the International Transport Workers’ Federation.
   On Tuesday, members of the ILA were in London, where the International Transport Workers’ Federation adopted a resolution to support the ILWU. John Bowers, president of the ILA, chaired the meeting of the dockworkers’ section of the international federation.
   Later this month, Kees Marges, secretary of the federation’s dockers’ section, will travel to the U.S. to offer to assist the ILWU.
   Asked whether the ILA would go on strike at U.S. East Coast ports to support the West Coast-based ILWU, Marges replied: “Not a single action will be excluded … provided it is within existing laws.” The unions affiliated to the International Transport Workers’ Federation have not made detailed decision on labor actions, he added.
   The ILA was not immediately available to comment on the possibility of sympathy strikes on the U.S. East Coast.