After ten months of negotiations, 150 workers at the Wallenius Wilhelmsen Logistics Tacoma Vehicle Processing Center have secured a first contract with ILWU Local 23. This achievement marks a significant victory for the ILWU’s Supply Chain, Logistics, and Transport organizing program.
“Here’s how we did it,” begins an account detailing the efforts that led to this outcome. The process started in 2019 when Wallenius opened a new vehicle processing center in Tacoma. Workers at this facility perform various tasks such as post-factory accessory installs and quality control. Despite being familiar with union standards, Wallenius aimed to keep their Tacoma VPC non-union.
VPC workers initiated their union campaign with a mass strike on February 7, 2024. They walked off the job after management threatened them for demanding health and safety respect. “The day after the strike, workers announced they were joining ILWU Local 23,” despite WWL’s attempts to counteract through anti-union campaigns.
Negotiations faced challenges as WWL attempted to delay progress by stalling tactics during bargaining sessions. However, support from international dockworker unions helped apply pressure on WWL to negotiate in good faith.
By April 2, 2025, after extensive discussions, both parties reached an agreement covering wages and healthcare but continued negotiating over past discipline issues. Eventually, WWL agreed to reset most discipline records back to zero.
On May 1st (International Workers’ Day), members voted overwhelmingly in favor of ratifying the contract which includes several benefits such as average raises between 50-60%, employer-match healthcare coverage up to 95%, fair scheduling practices among others.
Following ratification came retaliation actions by WWL including layoffs targeting bargaining committee members; however grievances have been filed against these violations aiming towards resolution through arbitration if necessary.
Zack Pattin from ILWU Local 23 emphasizes: “What we’re doing at WWL is a major step toward protecting the future of the ILWU.”
