Speaking Out for Longshore Workers

In response to Chris Knopp’s ideas about longshoring (“Seeking Level Field for Labor Talks,” Letters, Oct. 27):

The Pacific Maritime Assn. passed out applications to the general public in 1997. It’s not a “private club.” I’m a part-time casual longshoreman. If I want to make my money I have to be available 24 hours, seven days a week.

When I go to the dispatch hall there’s no guarantee I’ll work at all. Sometimes I get up at 4 a.m. and don’t get a morning job. Or I pick up a job at 6 p.m. and don’t make it back home until 4 a.m.

Some days I literally spend eight hours seeking, waiting and driving to and from work with no pay at all. Does this sound “spoiled” to you?

Gilbert Torres

Yorba Linda

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The “lock the International Longshore and Warehouse Union has on the ports” has ensured our great working conditions. If not for this “lock” we would surely be exploited like every other worker in this industry around the world.

Why shouldn’t a person enjoy a piece of the pie (1.8% of a $300-billion-plus industry) and the dignity that goes with making good wages? They couldn’t have grown this big without us.

Andrew R. Aguilar

Long Beach

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For several weeks we’ve been reading about the $110,000 ILWU salaries.

Now, in the name of “balanced coverage” let’s have a report on the salaries of the executives in the PMA.

It won’t be easy. I’m sure the PMA is glad to expose the union salaries, but I bet they’ll be real shy about their own.

Richard Shilling

Pacific Palisades