Carnival Cruise Lines Reaches Accord with Alaskan Longshoremen

Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) from Alaska, Canada, and the West Coast staged a dockside demonstration on June 8th to protest Carnival's refusal to allow union members to load and unload baggage for the "Spirit." Since last summer, the cruise line has used its own employees to handle baggage.



Five longshoremen were arrested during the protest on charges of disorderly conduct and obstructing traffic.



"There was a lot of back and forth, and some posturing," ILWU President Carl Norman said. "We finally convinced them that it was in their best interest to return that work to U.S. citizens."



Carnival spokeswoman Jennifer De La Cruz said the company and union have reached a compromise that would allow the longshoremen to perform baggage handling responsibilities.



ILWU workers make $29 per hour to secure vessels at the docks, handle baggage, and load cargo onto cruise ships in Whittier, Alaska, said Mr. Norman. All of the cruise lines using Whittier as a point for loading and unloading passengers use union workers. Carnival was the only line that refused to honor the ILWU contract.