Vol. 73/No. 3      January 26, 2009

The California Department of Transportation, the governmental agency overseeing rebuilding of the bridge, along with the project’s contractor—a joint venture between American Bridge and the Fluor Co.—leased Pier 7 designating it a construction site for the bridge project, and not subject to the jurisdiction of Local 10.

The contractor then hired two other unions, the Ironworkers and Operating Engineers, to work at the site and unload ships.

Negotiations, which involved a federal mediator, lasted several days. An agreement was reached on December 30. Longshore workers will untie and release the ship from the pier, then ironworkers and operating engineers will unload it near the bridge project site in the bay.

Trent Willis, a representative of Local 10, told the San Francisco Chronicle that this deal made sense and would not hurt the other unions.

Frank Gaskin, the business agent for Local 10, called the agreement “a happy medium.” Still at least 10 more ships full of steel for the bridge are expected this year and negotiations of who will unload them will continue.

—Lea Sherman

Thai auto parts workers
win higher bonus pay
More than 1,000 workers at Thailand’s auto parts maker Yarnapund won higher bonus pay in December. Workers went on strike blocking roads to the plant December 13. The strike was settled after the company promised to pay a bonus of two months’ salary and not to punish workers involved in the labor action, reported The Nation.

The company initially offered to pay a bonus of one-and-a-half months’ salary, but the strikers insisted on at least three months.

“My wife just lost her job and we have two children to support. I’ve had to borrow money from loan sharks. I need the bonus to repay them,” a 41-year-old worker said. After working for the company for two decades, his monthly salary is Bt9,900 ($283).

The workers fell short of winning their demands for a pay raise, the removal of three company executives, the establishment of a labor union, and permanent employee status for all workers with more than one year of service.

—Sam Manuel

Truck drivers in India
go on nationwide strike
Prices of fruits and vegetables have started to rise in some Indian cities as a nationwide strike by truck drivers began January 5, reported the BBC.

Truck drivers say they have been hit hard by high fuel prices and the economic slowdown. “We are on an indefinite strike until our demands are met,” Charan Singh Lohara, president of the All India Motor Transport Congress, said. The president and the secretary of the union have been arrested.

“The government is giving concessions and bailout packages to so many industries. Why not us when we are struggling to repay loans with high fuel prices, high prices of tires, and numerous taxes?” said Lohara.

Truck drivers are also seeking an exemption from road tolls. Most freight in India goes by road.

Some 6 million truckers remained off India’s roads, according to the BBC. The government threatened to revoke the truckers’ licenses after talks with them broke down.

—Sam Manuel  
 
 
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