Dave Cochrane has made his living as a longshoreman for 25 years, working on the docks of the Vancouver waterfront.
In that time, the marine economy has changed in ways that no one could foresee.
“It’s not just loading and unloading any more,” Cochrane says, “it’s way more technical these days.”
Today’s longshoremen are responsible for everything from operating the equipment required to loading cargo onto ships, taking pilots out to the boats and scientific testing of the materials being shipped.
“The name ‘longshoreman’ comes from England when all free labourers were called ‘along shore’ to help unload the ships,” he says. “I guess that’s what we’re still doing.”
Free labourers are still involved, though union members usually make up about 25 per cent of the workforce, Cochrane says. The rest of the work is done by workers brought in on a casual basis.
In Canada there are a number of different locals, but the longshoremen are all represented by the International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ILWU). The Longshore Division of the union is involved in the loading, unloading and checking of cargo to and from vessels, and the storage of goods on the docks and in warehouses.
Types of cargo handled include forest products comprising everything from woodchips to milled lumber; bulk ores such as coal and potash; liquid bulk including methanol and seed oil; grain containers; and general cargo.
Longshoremen have a long history as union workers in Vancouver, stretching back to 1888 when 80 longshoremen were organized by a group calling themselves the Knights of Labour. The present-day ILWU was formed in the 1940s.
“The biggest change I’ve seen is in container shipping,” Cochrane notes.
He adds that in his time on the docks, the number of containers handled has jumped from about 80,000 to approximately 16 million each year.
Container shipping means much of the work that used to be done on the docks has dried up, as containers are packed and unpacked elsewhere.
“They come to us sealed,” Cochrane explains, “and with security so tight since September 11, we don’t inspect the contents here.”
Various elements of the ages-old marine economy may wax and wane, but one thing that is not new to longshoremen is the concept of globalization.
“That’s what our job has always been all about,” Cochrane says.
“Longshoremen have always benefited from global trading and we always will.”
Web watch:
www.districtporthardy.bc.ca
www.sewellsmarina.com
