The Port of Anchorage is one of the busiest sites in Alaska with over 4 million tons of cargo annually moving through the ships that land at its docks. That material doesn’t move by itself, however; members of the Anchorage Independent Longshore Union, Local 1, handle much of that cargo. “We work through all kinds of weather and we have to work round-the-clock until a ship is completely unloaded,” says member Jack Veit. A 29-year member of the AILU, Jack recognizes that his union plays an important role in his work and family life. “One of the hot topics right now is health care…For me, it hasn’t been a problem. I have a great health care plan that covers me, my wife, and my two daughters.”
Jack plans to retire in another year or so, and he can point to several items that will make his retirement comfortable. “Not only do I have a secure pension, my wife and I will have reliable health care. And with the decent wages that our business agent Bob Witt has gotten for us year after year, we’ve been able to put our two daughters through college without any debt.” Particularly concerned about younger workers who might not have that safety net, Jack devotes his time to supporting local labor-friendly candidates and speaking with fellow workers about the Employee Free Choice Act. “One thing that really upsets me is the comment made by the Home Depot CEO. He said that any corporate leader who hasn’t donated money to fight the Employee Free Choice Act “should be shot.” That’s just plain wrong on so many different levels,” Jack comments.