Fallen ILWU workers remembered at annual memorial program in San Pedro
For those who work on the docks of the mammoth twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the past year has been an exhausting ride of extreme lows and highs in cargo volumes — and a year in which workers mourned the deaths of union members and associates who were felled by COVID-19.
Those whose deaths were linked to COVD-19 were given special honors at noon Saturday, May 15, during the 19th annual “First Blood” ceremony in San Pedro. The outdoor event, held near the Harry Bridges bust on Harbor Boulevard, recognizes those who have been injured and lost their lives working on the docks.
No new names were added this year to that list of 69 who died in the workplace, said Greg Mitre, president of the Southern California Pensioners Group which sponsors the event.
But 18 union members, both active workers and pensioners, succumbed to the coronavirus that swept onto U.S. shores in March 2020. Among them, Mitre said, was Lidia Lopez, president of the ILWU Auxiliary, who was honored on Saturday.
The past year, Mitre said, “was a complete paradox.”
Going from plummeting volumes to astronomical cargo traffic as the year progressed, it was feast or famine for those who make a living on the docks.
Early on, job shifts were scarce as ship calls were canceled and incoming cargo shrank. By summer, everything had changed and it was hard to keep up with all the cargo hitting the San Pedro Bay where both ports ramped up efforts to deal with the surge.
There also were intense efforts to control the spread of the pandemic as protocols were put in place for sanitizing the sprawling work spaces and and to adhere social distancing to stem the virus’ flow.
In the early months of 2021, pressure grew to vaccinate the 15,000 longshore workers who are deemed essential to the economy. Most of the workers now are vaccinated, Mitre said.
Family members were on hand to join in the time of remembrance Saturday.
This year marks the 87th anniversary of the 1934 West Coast Longshoremen’s and Seamen’s strike that established the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
A granite wall is etched with the names of workers who have died working on the docks through the years.
The most recent death from injury on the job was Jose Santoya, a 58-year-old father of two adult daughters who was killed on May 15, 2019, when a massive tire exploded as he was working at the Fenix Marine Services Terminal on Pier 300 in the Port of Los Angeles.
The incident happened just hours before the 2019 memorial service, making for a particularly dark mood as participants that year gathered under gray skies. His name was added to the wall in time for the 2020 memorial.
Last year’s gathering, just a couple months after the pandemic had hit, was marked by the unveiling of Santoya’s name that had just been added to the wall. The solemn ceremony each year features the calling out of the names on the wall as a bell is rung in their honor.
The program is sponsored by the Southern California Pensioners Group on behalf of ILWU Locals 13, 63 and 94.