FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Great Lakes

District Council 2007 Convention

Radisson Bay Harbor Hotel in Tampa, Florida

Article By: Kenny Moore

I bring greeting to you from the convention in Florida. This was the first Longshoremen's convention I attended. There were many speakers from the host district, the other two district councils ( Atlantic Coast District, the South Atlantic and Gulf Coast District).  Also some speakers were from other areas of our industry and government agencies. The topic spoken about range from organizing workers, environmental impact studies, and reviewing the funding structure of a major waterway and others that were directly related to us and our work.  These speakers touched on the various relationships and interactions with cities and surrounding communities where ports are located.  We must be constantly alert for anything that will affect our work and livelihood.

Mentioned was made of the effort to create other use for space now being used by various terminal operations.  In Philadelphia, PA, there is an interest to create gambling casinos where longshoremen currently work ships and containers are grounded.  New York City is reviewing a plan to build condos, a park, and a shopping mall where container ships and their cargo are handled.  this is where the company I work for is located and my work comes from.

Another topic brought up was the environment.  An environmental impact study was done at one port that showed that a particular port having a negative effect on the surrounding area.  Yet when the port did its own research it was noted that the study done by the other group had some misinformation in it.

The main thing I came away with was that we have to be proactive and on the lookout for anything that might effect our work and livelihood.  Watch the news and read the newspapers for which may effect our jobs.  We may have to work with other groups that have similar interests.  The people I met were very nice, open and willing to share information they had with me.  I made many friends at the convention that I look forward to keeping in touch with.