International Longshoremen & Warehousemen's Union No. 6 C.I.O. - 1946 - Constitution & Rules of Order
I recently acquired an old moldy Constitution and Rules of Order book for ILWU Local 6 - “Warehousing, Processing & Allied Workers No. 6” C.I.O.
I wanted to share with you, their declaration of principles adopted in 1946 and a few observations.
To put it in context, these principals were adopted by our warehouse division 73 years ago. 9 years after the founding of the ILWU. 7 years before we even adopted the 10 guiding principles of the ILWU at the 10th Biennial convention in 1953.
I often think of our 3rd guiding principal - the one centered around “there can be no discrimination…” - and how powerful a statement it was in 1953, a year before Brown vs. the Board of Education - keep that in mind when reading through these. Also, having a different character and make up from the longshore division, notice also in 1946, “men and women” - “brother or sister” - “his or her”…
If you dig into ILWU history, you realize that all the different divisions, regions, industries bring different voices and components of the working class into the ILWU. From undocumented filipino cannery workers historically organizing across borders, threatened with deportation, multi-ethnic organizing in Hawaii before Hawaii was even a state, to the education and organizing that Local 5 is currently doing centered around gender identity. The ILWU has the blueprint for the world we want to live in. Be proud of your union and get involved. We can change the world… dare I say the ILWU already has, many times over again.
Enjoy…
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPALS
We, the men and women working under the jurisdiction of Local 6, in warehouse, distribution, manufacturing, processing and allied industries, in order to build and maintain a strong union organization and provide for the defense of our common interests, promote the general welfare of our members, their families and other wage earners in the community and uphold the rights and dignity of our labor and it’s organized expression, have determined that we shall be guided by the following principles:
1. An injury to one is an injury to all.
2. All rights and duties belong, without discrimination, to each member of this organization as long as they comply with the constitution and by-laws.
3. The right of each member to receive a fair and just return for his labor to make possible sufficient leisure for education, recreation, and cultural development.
4. The right to be treated in a decent and respectful manner by the employer.
5. To use all possible safety measures in our work so as not to injure brother or sister members; to reduce the hazards of our occupation to a minimum and to get the maximum benefits for those injured and to fight for improved benefits.
6. To conduct ourselves as union members in such a way as to raise the living standard of all wage earners.
7. To establish our occupation as an honorable means of earning a decent livelihood and protecting us against accident and the insecurities resulting from sickness and old age.
8. to organize the unorganized on an industrial basis instead of the outmoded, undemocratic craft union structure, which divides workers and weakens their bargaining power.
9. to assist other unions whenever possible in their resistance to attacks on their wages and working conditions and for the attainment of their demands and to honor legitimate picket lines.
10. To buy union-made goods wherever possible and to boycott non-union made products and establishments.
11. To fight all violations of democracy whether they be racial, religious, or political, to uphold the principle that all have an equal right to work, to security, and to leisure necessary to enjoy life. We reject racial or religious discrimination by anyone.
12. To continue fighting for the extinction of fascism and all the misery it brings, under whatever form it may operate and under whatever mask it may conceal itself.
13. To join the worldwide peoples movement against war and the causes of war, and to work for an enduring peace maintained and protected by powerful international organizations dedicated to the elimination of fascism, war and aggression.
14. To engage in political action to the fullest extent of our energies and resources, so that our economic and social gains may be extended, consolidated and protected.
15. To educate our membership as to their role and responsibilities as union members towards the working class movement and society, with a view to achieving a social order in which the resources of the earth shall be utilized to bring the greatest good to the greatest number.
16. Basing ourselves upon these principals, we are determined to do everything within our power, individually and collectively, to promote the best interests of our members in pursuit of these aims by:
a. Maintaining democratic rank and file control of our union.
b. Establishing permanent affiliation with our international union, The International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union, working closely with CIO councils and establishing a universal transfer system within the CIO.
c. Coordinating our economic and political activities with other trade unions and progressive organizations, such as farm and cooperative groups.
d. Working for unity within the labor movement locally, nationally and internationally.
e. Affirming the right of every one to a job without discrimination because of race, creed, color, sex, or political belief.
f. Asserting the full citizenship in the affairs of our communities, state and nation in such a manner as to make clear that our interests are identical with the interests of the majority of the people.
g. Upholding everywhere our conviction that the welfare of all mankind depends upon a recognition of the dignity of all human beings.
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