FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 19, 2022
Contact: Jennifer Sargent Bokaie, 503-703-2933
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ILWU Stands in Solidarity with Rail Unions and their 115,000 Members
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (July 19, 2022) – Today, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union
(ILWU) Coast Longshore Division announced that it stands in solidarity with the Rail Unions and 115,000 workers they represent as they continue to work for a fair contract that reflects the vital work they do nationwide.
“American families needed medical supplies, home office equipment, groceries and other supplies during the pandemic, and railroad workers made those deliveries possible,” said Willie Adams, ILWU International President. “They heroically stayed on the job without a contract or a raise, and it is beyond time for the private railroad companies to reach a fair agreement with the rail workers who delivered the goods – and the profits. The ILWU supports the rail workers’ right to bring home a decent wage and benefits to their families and calls on the employers to reach a fair agreement without further delay.”
Railroad workers, who move everything from Amazon packages to fuel and agricultural products from ports and across the nation, have been working without a contract for more than two years and have not received a raise since 2019. According to the Rail Unions, the National Carriers Conference Committee (NCCC), which represents railroad employers in negotiations, has refused to offer a comprehensive settlement proposal. Instead, the NCCC has chosen to present proposals that are insults to the hardworking union members who have worked to keep our supply chain moving throughout the pandemic.
“By refusing to treat their workers with respect and meet their reasonable demands for the past two years, the private rail carriers have shown they care more about profits than about American families, businesses, consumers, and our national economy,” said Bobby Olvera, Jr., ILWU International Vice President (Mainland). “At a time when workers are leaving their jobs in droves, the private rail employers owe it to our nation to keep our supply chain moving by making sure that rail jobs remain worth showing up to.”
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