Stevedores, lines sue ILA over wildcat strike

Stevedores, lines sue ILA over wildcat strike    The New York Shipping Association and its members are suing the International Longshoremen’s Association over a wildcat strike that took place on Sept. 28-29, saying its members collectively suffered damages of more than $5 million.
   NYSA members include marine terminal operators, stevedores and ocean carriers in the Port of New York and New Jersey. It negotiates and administers collective bargaining agreements that govern the local terms and conditions of employment for about 4,000 longshoremen.
   The work stoppage occurred when ILA members in a dispute with Philadelphia-area stevedoring and terminal companies owned by the Holt family set up picket lines in New Jersey on Sept. 28 and ILA members refused to cross those lines. The ILA lost jobs when Holt moved the business of receiving fruit for Del Monte Fresh Produce from a Camden terminal where ILA members work to a terminal employing members of other unions, including the International Association of Machinists.
   That strike happened even though an arbitrator had warned the day before that such picketing “would constitute secondary activity in violation of the National Labor Relations Act.”
   The NYSA said it believes ILA officers, agents, and representatives either encouraged honoring the picket lines or failed to take action to dissuade members for doing so.
   New York members eventually returned to work at 7 p.m. Sept. 29 after the NYSA warned it would commence contempt procedures if the work stoppage was not called off.
   'I said it when the workers walked out in September and I repeat it again. In today's environment of port-to-port competition and other significant economic challenges, the job action by the ILA was just plain wrong,' said Joseph Curto, NYSA president. 'By seeking relief of the costs incurred by our members, we hope the ILA will understand that it is in everyone's best interest to work together in our port and not encourage actions that can only hurt us.
   “When we as a port community are positioning ourselves for future growth and seeking to increase the cargo coming to our port, and working to preserve the high-paying jobs enjoyed by the union members, the last thing in the world we need is to send a message to our customers and future customers that labor is not dependable in the Port of New York and New Jersey,' he added. ' Chris Dupin