Since the inception of the twentieth century, labor unions have been the most effective means of protection of longshoremen, harbor workers, and port truck drivers. These unions have played a role in an industry controlled by large shipping companies and firms to demand better wages, safe working conditions, and job security. But now that the corporate world is clamoring for automation and deregulation, unions’ struggle for workers’ rights and welfare becomes increasingly difficult.
There are two main unions that exist in the representation of port labor in the United States today.
- The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) – Representing dockworkers primarily on the West Coast.
- The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) – Representing dockworkers mainly on the East Coast and Gulf Coast.
They both engage in the signing of labor contracts, striking, and resisting exploitation by companies among other things. The Teamsters Union has been actively involved in fighting for rights of the port truck drivers who are majority of them are misclassified as independent contractors and do not enjoy employment rights.
How Unions Have Improved Conditions for Port Workers
The labor unions have been on the forefront in ensuring that they get to achieve some of the most important milestones that have changed the industry. The improvements include the following;
Fair Wages and Union Contracts
Through CBA, unions have negotiated for reasonable wages that would be paid to longshoremen and dockworkers. These contracts include:
- Hourly wages significantly higher than the national average.
- Overtime pay and benefits, including pensions and healthcare.
- Job security provisions to prevent sudden layoffs.
For port truck drivers, however, the struggle for minimum wages ensues as many have been categorized as independent contractors hence cannot be allowed to form a union.
Improved Workplace Safety
For many years, working in the docks was one of the most hazardous occupations in the United States before formation of the unions. Owing to unionism, several progressive changes have been made such as;
- Stronger enforcement of OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) regulations.
- Better training programs to reduce workplace injuries.
- Mandatory rest periods to prevent exhaustion-related accidents.
Despite these gains, automation and cost-cutting measures continue to pose safety risks, as companies attempt to replace workers with machines to increase profits at the expense of safety.
Resistance to Automation and Job Cuts
However, automation is one of the biggest risks that dockworkers face in the current society. Shippers are pressurizing the companies to adopt AI controlled cranes, robotic cargo handlers and automated terminals. For as much as the automation increases efficiency, it also causes loss of thousands of employment opportunities.
Employees labor unions have demanded for contracts that delay automation in order that the workers:
- Receive retraining opportunities for new roles in an automated industry.
- Are protected from mass layoffs due to technological changes.
- Have a voice in automation decisions, to make sure that the corporate forces do not dictate terms of work in the future.
These are making demands on behalf of the employees and claiming that they should not lose their jobs for the sake of higher productivity and profits.