International Brotherhood of Longshoremen

  

International Brotherhood of Longshoremen

Motto	"Capital works for Labor"
Founded	June 6, 1892 (1892-06-06) November 5, 1934 (1934-11-05) (modern)
Predecessor	Sierran Stevedores and Longshoremen Union
Members	175,911
Affiliation	SFI–CLO (NACL–FIO)
Key people	Eret Visser
Office location	1188 Trist Avenue San Francisco City, San Francisco, K.S.
Website	ibl.org

The International Brotherhood of Longshoremen (abbreviated as IBL) is a labor union based in Sierra which represents dock workers, hotel workers, cannery workers, and security workers in Sierra, Astoria, and Manitoba, as well as warehouse workers throughout Western North America. It is one of the most powerful labor unions in the country and the modern IBL was founded in San Francisco City in 1934 following the 1931 Sierran longshoremen's strike and 1933 Hilo massacre. It traces its origins to its predecessor, the Sierran Stevedores and Longshoremen Union (SSLU), which was founded in 1892. The SSLU played a role in the early Sierran labor movement but was forcibly disbanded by the Sierran government during the Approbatio due to anti-union policies. Following the IBL's reorganization, the labor union played a major role in the liberal wing of the Democratic-Republican Party of Sierra under the leadership of union president Phil Harmon. The IBL's reputation was damaged during the 1960s and 1970s when the Sierran Mafia and the Kazan-gumi infiltrated union leadership for racketeering purposes. Corruption and collusion with the mafia led to the IBL's expulsion from the SFI–CLO in 1973, and remained disaffiliated until 2004 when it rejoined the federation, following the decline of Mafia activity and influence over the union.

The IBL has more than 175,000 active members and more than 350,000 retired members in over 300 local unions. It holds about 900 contracts with 1,200 employers. Its members have gained notoriety as the "aristocrats of labor" due to union members being compensated to highly competitive, above-average wages and employment benefits.

History

The International Brotherhood of Longshoremen traces its origins to the Sierran Stevedores and Longshoremen Union, an early Sierran labor union founded in 1892. The history of organized labor in Sierra was punctuated by consistent resistance and opposition by the Sierran government due to the perceived connection of labor unions with republicanism and Landonism. Union-breaking laws and anti-striking practices were frequently evoked by provincial legislatures and companies in order to discourage workers from organizing. The shipping industry was notorious for its long working hours and poor working conditions, resulting in a highly tense relationship between dock workers and their management.

See also

• SFI–CLO
• NACL-FIO