History of the Union
The maritime sector of the United States is important in the activity of the American Longshoremen and the Harbor Workers Union. On behalf of dockworkers, longshoremen, and harbor laborers, the union provides equitable wages, secure working hours, and effective labor rights. This is an organization that has been the pillar of shipping, trade, and logistics in American ports since the decades.
Dock Work’s Ugly Realities.
Tedious Hours and Tiring Work.
In the first half of the 20th century, exhaustion was linked to dock work. Longshoremen were assigned to lift heavy loads, frequently without mechanical assistance, sometimes deep into the night. There was various ways of pay, the twelve hours being considered one of the standards and it was quite common to see them working well into the night down on the docks when there were shipments that had to go out. This arduous work had a physical impact that rendered men with chronic injuries, sore muscles and ill health.
Rest was a luxury, not a given, and even though workers were being forced to lay themselves off for some period of time they couldn’t properly unwind knowing that there were no guarantees they would receive another paycheck.
This insatiable thirst for work was part of the flourishing economy of the time but to those who had to do this it was a life of weariness and physical depletion.
Poor pay and Economic instability.
The reality of poor wages added to physical hardships.
Working was filthy, dirty and lower than lowly to the point that longshoremen
who heft overstuffed trunks and barrels all day were paid a hell of a lot less than they deserved.
Huge numbers of employees were living from hand to mouth, and barely able to supply his family with what sufficed for their sustenance – rent, food & clothing.
The disparity between the wages of dockworkers and other workers in many industries was obvious
but shipping companies were not interested to improve their docking days
because labor is cheap and there is no whatsoever threat of an employer running out of doekers.
They were caught up in a spiral of poverty where they couldn’t even afford to spend on their health, education or savings.
The job of a longshoreman was survival rather than prosperity for most families, there were few prospects for advancement.
The Shape-Up System and Job Insecurity.
Initial dock work was the most de-motivated by pulling with this system, the shape-up.
In the mornings the workers would assemble at the docks, waiting to be chosen to work a shift.
It was hiring bosses or foremen that decided who would work and this was principally done through favour,
bribing or personal connections rather than on the grounds of merit.
That left a lot of men standing around with nothing to do and wishing they had a crack at even one day.
Jobs would not be guaranteed and therefore uncertainty plagued workers
who were never sure they would be picked up ors earn money.
Families in uncertain (as hard work was not the only factor, but also luck).
Many foremen were also able to abuse workers through this system as they were forced to offer various kinds of gifts,
favors or loyalty in order to be selected.
That was an abuse and a denial of the dignity of workers, and the necessity for them to work together collectively.