The Docker Podcast

After being welcomed by the Squamish first nation with songs, history and storytelling,  we listen to Thomas Mayor, Branch Secretary of the Northern Territory branch of the Maritime Union of Australia, and advocate for the sacred Uluru Statement From the Heart. Thomas tells us about the struggles of Aboriginal and Torres Straight people in Australia as well as the work that went into creating the...

Dan is joined by a group of young dockers from all over Europe at the 2ndETF Young Dockers Meeting. They stood around a small table outside and shared some stories and ideas over a few beers.

We sit down for a good old fashion bullshit session with ILWU 23 Young worker Zack Pattin. Dan is his usual charming self and Steph didn't  realize that we were recording. We weren't going to publish this one but, hey, why not?

Returning for the third (or is it the fourth?) time on the show we have a legend! Stevie Todd is back and this time, on the eve of his retirement, he gives us a bit of insight in to his lengthy career in the RMT. One thing is for sure, we don't think this is the last we'll hear from this bulldog!

As the convention progresses more first timers come join Dan and Steph, Sean Farley from local 34 has a sit down to discuss his career with the ILWU and his work on the Jim Herman Cruise Ship terminal in San Francisco

ILWU Aux. 8 President Ida Taylor joins Steph and Dan to talk about the roll of the Auxiliary both traditionally and today.  

Another new voice to the Podcast, Ed Ferris joins Dan and Steph. Ed has long been involved in the ILWU, previously being President of local 10 among other positions and its about time we finally get to pick his brain about his vision for the future.

From the Maritime Union of Australia Will Tracy, and Paul Garret return to the show to update us on the what's going on with the "New Union" and the continued battles with government and employers.

And here we have it folks, after a 1229 day (3+ year) chase across the planet, we have finally managed to get a visit from "Big" Bob McEllrath. Dan and Steph talk with Bob about changes he has seen in the industry and the union and some of his biggest accomplishments as President of the ILWU.

We have another familiar voice returning to the show: ILWU International Secretary-Treasurer Willie Adams joins Steph and Dan. This time, Willie talks about his career and growth within the union.

Darren Williams from ILWU local 7 joins Steph and Dan to talk about working in a small port like Bellingham Washington.

We're kicking off our convention series with a familiar voice. Returning to the show is Maritime Union of Australia Queensland Branch Deputy Secretary Jason Miners. He sits down with Dan and Steph to discuss the current struggles of the MUA.

Shortly after a rally in the Port of Vancouver, in support of SCFP (CUPE) 5317, Dan and ILWU President Rob Ashton talk with Eric Sinclair of CUPE 5317 and Alain Desrochers of CUPE 375. The discussion and rally, attended by Multiple ILWU from Canada and the states, CUPE, and included solidarity messages from the MUA in Australia, were centred around Viterra, a grain company that has locked out 51 w...

Zack Pattin fills in for Dan, when he and Steph talk with Mark Medina, an organizer for the IWW in Portland. Three of then discuss the recent success of the Burgerville Workers Union and their efforts to organize multiple Burgerville locations in Portland.

Mitch Bowman comes to talk with us about the "Wobblies" in Vancouver.

Recorded live in Chicago by The Docker and The Deckhands we talk with organizers Gene Bruskin, and Peter Olney (retired ILWU organizer). Then Peter Heart form the IBU and Ari, talk with Peter Kennedy (retired Unifor), Fred Wilson (retired Unifor), and Peter Knowtten (UE) about the North America Solidarity Project.

Recorded live in Chicago by The Docker and The Deckhands, First, we talk to Emily McArthur from Socialist Alternative about the Kshama Solidarity Campaign and her podcast "Socialism Today", then we speak with Linda Gomoa, from the International League for Brand Responsibility, lastly we talk with Chris Baehrend from ACTS is Chicago.

Recorded live in Chicago by The Docker and The Deckhands, A mash-up of ILWU and IBU rank and filers conversations both before and after some of the workshops at the Labor Notes Conference. Dan (The Docker/ ILWU 502), Ryan Brazeau and Ari Landrum (IBU, The Deckhands), Ali Vekich (ILWU 19), Terence Candell, Alea Pritzos, Brian Helme (IBU), Anita Burns (Puget Sound WSF), Myka Dubay (ILWU local 5).

Dan tries to get the facts while on thee picket line with other young workers from the ITF Youth commitee. Bosses at DHL Express Turkey refuse to recognise their workers' legally recognised union. Even after German owners stated they would reconize unions in all contries it they operate in.  After 8 months, striking union workers in Istanbul are still waiting for German company to keep its word.

Brother Al Bieksa (Yeah, Kevins dad, cool right?) from the United Steel Workers 2009 and the BCFED OH&S Center, sits with Dan to talk about his background as a steelworker, the Day Of Mourning, The Westray Act, behaviour based safety, among other things.

ILWU Canada President Rob Ashton had an opportunity to speak in front of the Senate Committee on Transport and communication in regards to bill c-49. Speaking against the port of Vancouver having an ability to borrow money from the infrastructure bank to build an automated terminal. # noT2 # ilwucanada # workingclass # itfdockers

ITF inspectors Vince Giannopoulos and Karl Risser join Dan over the phone to talk about the past year. We talk about everything from the Lashing campaign in Montreal, to gong up gangways in Halifax, to hockey.

Dan Kask (ILWU 502 NW), Brian Skiffington (ILWU 23 Tacoma), Ashley Bordignon (ILWU 502 NW), Jose Jorge Garcia Faerna (FSC-CCOO Spain), Manual Laris Ros (FSC-CCOO Spain), Josefina Castille (FSTPS Nicaragua), John Edward Espinosa (SNTT Colombia), Missanka Mendis (NUSS Srilanka) and Ryan McGibbon-Thompson (MUA Syndey), recap the ITF Young Dockers meeting in London.

Dan is joined by Joulene Parent and sits with retired ILWU Pensioners   Sam George, Ron (Red) Baker, John (Corky) Cordocedo, Ken S. E. Baker.  We begin to explore the history of First Nations people on Vancouver's waterfront including the  "Bows & Arrows" and what solidarity means to these retired brothers.   " Knowledge and understanding of our Union's history are invaluable tools for charting ou...

The new ILWU Canada Young workers Committee sit down with members of the out going committee to discuss the conference they attended and the their hopes for the youth movement in the future.