International Longshoremen's Association Local 1588

Please join your Union officials and fellow members to close out the summer with an enjoyable barbecue including Music, Food and Refreshments (BYOB).

Good Eats

Saturday, September 4th
2:00 PM
Local 1588 Union Hall
550 Kennedy Blvd
Bayonne
Any questions, call the hall 201-437-3452

Local 1588 members at BMW ratified a three year contract on August 5, 2010 by 70%. The deal came after tough bargaining that began in April with company demanding that the union agree to subcontracting language that would have allowed for the outsourcing of the entire bargaining unit.

BMW members unite at June contract meeting

The workforce was united in opposing outsourcing, which they understood would have quickly led to declining wages and working conditions. But the company pushed hard, claiming it needed to outsource to remain competitive. Management withdrew the proposal only after the union made clear that we were ready to fight hard. One union meeting saw 90% of the workforce turnout to express opposition to subcontracting. Several other unions and labor groups pledged to support Local 1588, including the ILA, the International Dockworkers Council, Jobs with Justice, IG Metal (which represents BMW workers in Germany), and the Teamsters and Autoworkers locals that represent other BMW facilities in the U.S.

In a stunning turnaround victory for Local 1588, the BLRA reversed itself last week and agreed to sell 130 acres of the former Military Ocean Terminal to the Port Authority which intends to develop it as a container terminal.

The decision was announced at Bayonne City Hall on July 29 at a BLRA meeting attended by dozens of Local 1588 and Local 1804 members. Local 1588 had been battling the BLRA since 2006 when the agency first announced that it would prohibit a container terminal on the property. A container terminal, it said, was incompatible with plans to develop the tract as luxury real estate.

Local 1804 Members at the July 29 BLRA Meeting

1588 officers and Members at the BLRA

Richard Cugini and Michael Aceti were elected Assistant Shop Stewards of Global and Ceres lists in balloting conducted on August 5.