USA: The last hurdle has been cleared so that negotiations for a first collective agreement may begin for the Avondale shipyard workers. According to a statement on December 3 of the AFL-CIO Metal Trades Department, a New Orleans arbitrator has certified that the Metal Trades Department and the Metal Trades Council of New Orleans represent the majority of the 4,100 employees at Avondale's main shipyard in New Orleans and in Gulfport, Mississippi.
Following the approval of a neutrality pact five weeks ago between the unions and the company, in which the unions were given a year to secure the required number of signatures, it took less than 10 days to collect far more than the necessary majority. Union recognition will apply to three Avondale locations: their four facilities in New Orleans, plus the yards at Tallulah, Louisiana and Gulfport, Mississippi.
The fight for union recognition has been a very hard and long struggle. For more than 50 years, Avondale was the only major non-union shipyard in the U.S., but when Litton Industries bought out the Avondale shipyards this summer, the new owner indicated a more union-friendly approach.
Negotiations for the first contract should begin early in 2000.