Longshoremen’s Union Strikes At CSA

The International Longshoremen’s Association Local 1410 began striking CSA Equipment Co.’s breakbulk operations at the Port of Mobile last week, less than a month after the organizations agreed to federal mediation, AL.com reported. Local 1410 President Mark Bass said the union membership voted to strike after being notified of cancellation of the mediation. Local 1410, which represents approximately 800 dockworkers, has worked without a contract with CSA since 2018, when the last contract expired. Three contract offers have been voted down by union membership: one presented in 2020, one in spring 2021 and one earlier this fall. According to the World Socialist Web Site, since the last contract expired, the membership’s benefits and pension fund were frozen by the company. Workers are demanding a retroactive payout of benefits and pensions, in addition to control over the tying up of vessels contracted to CSA and more workers assigned per unit.