Working people across the United States have stepped up to help out our friends, neighbors and communities during these trying times. In our regular Service + Solidarity Spotlight series, we’ll showcase one of these stories every day. Here’s today’s story.
Thousands of members of the Longshoremen (ILA) are set to benefit from an amendment to the union’s master contract with their employers at the United States Maritime Alliance Ltd. (USMX). ILA International President Harold Daggett told members in a letter sent last week that those covered under the union’s contract will not experience a loss of health care coverage because of any reduction in their 2020 work hours caused by COVID-19. “Your officers are grateful for our USMX partners, who recognized that their ILA workforce became America’s heroic front-line workers during this COVID-19 pandemic, bravely and consistently keeping cargo moving in and out of our nation’s ports,” Daggett wrote to eligible members. “Health care coverage for our ILA workers covered under the national health care plan is an essential part of our ILA-USMX master contract. We are now assured that crucial benefits will continue in contract year 2021.” The new contract year began Oct. 1.