Indeed, in April, 1989, the iron workers and other unions joined management in a buyout of the shipyard after the former owner threatened to shut it down, following a $30 million loss. Turning to the present, Godinez, who has been a union member and Nassco employee since 1975, explained that the union’s attitude toward management has been tempered somewhat since the 1980 incident. Over the years, Local 627 has survived a near fatal rift within its ranks, an attempted takeover by communist radicals, a takeover by its International Union and negative publicity it suffered when two of its members were convicted in federal court of attempting to bomb the Nassco shipyard during a bitter labor dispute. The men and women who make up its membership come from various ethnic groups and are as tough as the shipyard they work at. Local 627, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Saturday, has always had a raucous reputation. One year later, an arbitrator upheld the firings of Salas and 12 of the 27 workers. The union responded by staging a three-day wildcat strike that led to more firings. The company fired 27 of the protesters, including Miguel Salas, then business agent for Local 627. Stunned dignitaries, including a prospective Nassco customer, watched as some of the workers used bullhorns to give their own speeches, denouncing working conditions at the shipyard.Įmbarrassed Nassco officials reacted swiftly. Murray’s approach to the podium was the cue for 200 iron workers, who marched toward the stage in a carefully planned demonstration and took over the platform. Murray, as Nassco officials proudly waited to present their latest ship. 2, 1980, launching of the Cape Cod, including Navy Undersecretary Robert J. The company had gathered several dignitaries at the Aug. But the vessels also symbolized different eras in the sometimes confrontational, but always rocky relations between the iron workers local – the largest of seven unions at Nassco – and the shipyard that spawned the group 50 years ago. Robert Godinez, business agent for the Iron Workers Union, Local 627, chuckled when asked to compare the recent launching of a Navy supply ship, which went off without a hitch, and the launching of another Navy ship 10 years ago.īoth ships – the auxiliary oiler explosives (or AOE) Supply and the destroyer tender Cape Cod – were built and launched at the National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. Please credit the Encyclopedia of Anti-Revisionism On-Line as your source, include the url to this work, and note any of the transcribers, editors & proofreaders above. You can freely copy, distribute and display this work as well as make derivative and commercial works. Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba Copyright: This work is in the Public Domain under the Creative Commons Common Deed. Though Local 627 has always had a raucous reputation, the union’s attitude toward management at the Nassco shipyard has tempered.įirst Published: Los Angeles Times, October 15, 1990. Reza Iron Workers Recast Image as Union Celebrates Its 50th Year: Iron Workers Recast Image as Union Celebrates Its 50th Year Encyclopedia of Anti-Revisionism On-Line H.
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