ILWU reaches accord for MERC security staff

Pressure from labor and its allies has helped the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 28 secure a first contract with the Metropolitan Exposition-Recreation Commission (MERC) on behalf of 39 security guards who oversee the Oregon Convention Center and other Metro-operated venues.

MERC is a public-sector employer whose commissioners are appointed by the commissions of the City of Portland, Multnomah, Clackamas and Washington counties, and Metro.

A mail ballot has been sent to the nine full-time and 30 part-time security guards who work for MERC. Results are expected next week.

The union has been trying to reach an accord since January 2002, when employees first voted to form a union. But for months on end MERC negotiator Tanya Collier would not budge from management’s offer of a 0.4 percent wage hike (less than $10 a week) — and a new policy to charge employees $20 a month for parking.

ILWU stepped up its community campaign, and it was soon after that when a deal was reached.

“Labor and friends of labor, including our political allies, provided us tremendous support. I can’t say enough,” said Paul Bigman, lead negotiator for the ILWU. “Tanya and Metro were getting calls from around the nation to settle this contract.”

On what proved to be the last round of negotiations June 12, Charlie Mercer, president of the Union Label and Service Trades Department, AFL-CIO, flew in from Washington, D.C., to be at the bargaining table. Mercer’s concern was the Union-Industries Trades Show scheduled for the convention center in 2005.

“One thing you don’t want at a Union-Industries Trade Show is a labor dispute. Charlie made that very clear,” Bigman said.

Bigman also praised the Northwest Oregon Labor Council and its executive secretary-treasurer, Judy O’Connor, as well as the Portland chapter of Jobs With Justice.

“They provided wonderful support work for us. It was crucial to our campaign.’

The tentative new deal provides full-time security guards with pay raises of between 2.5 to 15 percent, depending on where they are in the wage scale, which varies widely from person to person. It contains shift differential pay of 60 cents an hour for swing and 90 cents an hour for graveyard and a $750 signing bonus. Part-time guards will receive pay hikes ranging between 2.5 to 12 percent, along with the other improvements.

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