On this edition of Labor 131, presented by the National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Jesse Halvorsen, an independent scholar and labor historian, joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s (ILWU) militant past, the pivotal 1960 Mechanization and Modernization Agreement and the lasting impact of containerization on the industry.
Halvorsen called the 1960 Mechanization and Modernization Agreement a turning point for both Longshoremen unions. The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ILWU, ILA and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) addressed two significant issues: Mechanization — primarily containerization — and the modernization of work rules. The agreement aimed to streamline labor processes while preserving jobs and sharing productivity gains with workers. Halvorsen said the compromise allowed the unions to embrace technological advancements while protecting both unions’ members.
Despite the 1960 agreement, tensions resurfaced between the ILWU and PMA in the early 1970s, leading to a 134-day strike. Halvorsen outlined the key issues, including securing wage guarantees and jurisdiction over container contents. The strike, which saw overwhelming support from ILWU members, was eventually resolved through federal intervention and resulted in substantial wage gains and the implementation of a 50-mile radius rule for longshore work. Halvorsen said the strike demonstrated the union's continued ability to leverage its collective power in changing industry dynamics.
He explained that the impact of containerization on the longshore industry has been profound and far-reaching. Halvorsen then discussed how modern container ships can carry up to 24,000 containers, starkly contrasting with the 58 containers transported in the first shipment in 1956. This technological leap has transformed port operations and reshaped the entire geography of goods handling infrastructure. The displacement of warehouses from port areas to urban fringes has created new challenges for worker organization and union representation in the logistics sector.
To hear more about both the ILA and ILWU’s history of militancy and adaptation, listen to the full episode of the America's Work Force Union Podcast.
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