Dock workers load and unload cargo on ships that come into port. They operate machines that lift and move cargo. At times they have to lift pieces of cargo by hand. They work in teams called gangs. Dock workers are also called longshoremen.
Dock workers work for stevedoring companies that contract to hire dock workers and see the job through to completion. There are two kinds of stevedore operations. Some are independent businesses that provide a service. Others are divisions of large shipping companies. Both the safety of the cargo and the safety of the workers are the responsibility of these operations. A ship's cargo is valuable, and the work can be dangerous. Once a ship's cargo has been unloaded, dock workers hand it over to truck drivers at what is called "the point of rest." The point of rest is the exact place beyond which the stevedore is no longer responsible for the cargo.
Many different tasks are involved in the loading and unloading of cargo. Therefore, there are several kinds of dock workers. Checkers are responsible for inspecting the cargo; they write down the kind of cargo, its bulk, and the name of the ship. They make note of any damaged material. They also handle the shipping and receiving documents that have to be exchanged with the truckers when the cargo changes hands at the point of rest. Gear repairers keep all the loading equipment, such as trucks and winches, in good working order. Lift-truck operators drive the special trucks that carry heavy cargo. Winch operators run the winches. Winches are similar to very large cranes; they have huge pincers that catch hold of either the cargo itself or the "sling" or net used to hold it. Winches are specially designed to lift extremely heavy weights. They are used to move the cargo between the ship and the dock.
Inside the hold of the ship, dock workers prepare the cargo for unloading. They secure the slings around the cargo so that it can be lifted out of the ship and onto the dock. The lifting must be done very carefully because the cargo is very heavy as well as very valuable. Dock workers also stow cargo in the holds of ships that are being loaded.
Education and Training
There are no educational requirements for the job, but clock workers must belong to a union before they can get jobs. Workers are trained on the job. Experienced workers act as teachers to new dock 1 workers, who learn how to handle a dock worker's hook, to use the rope and cable riggings, and to stow or stack cargo.
The dock worker's job requires agility, physical strength, and endurance. Strain can result from improperly lifting or dragging heavy cargoes. Good eyesight and hearing are important. Workers must be able to follow orders and to think quickly and clearly.
Getting the Job
Practically all dock workers' jobs require union membership. Those interested in being dock workers should try to register with the union. A few jobs are available through private stevedoring firms.
Generally, the manner of becoming a dock worker varies according to port custom. Registration with the local union office or with privately owned stevedoring firms is the most common method. More than 95 percent of the nation's dock workers work under union agreement. The International Long-shore men's Association is the major union, representing dock workers .it 35 American ports.
In the Gulf Coast and Great Lakes areas, workers are hired for daily work at a "shape-up." This is a meeting place where all those desiring work gather at a specified time. The hiring supervisors, representing various contracting companies, select as many gangs as they need for the day's job. The main disadvantage of this system is that a worker must go to the dock every day and spend time waiting without any guarantee of work.
In most other areas the union and employer associations use a hiring hall system. The dock workers register their times of availability at the hall. Each steamship or stevedoring company calls the hiring hall the night before a loading or unloading is scheduled. The hall notifies the gang bosses by telephone. The bosses contact the gangs, and the gang members meet the next morning at the job area. Registered workers are also sent from the hiring hall to fill out a gang when it is short of workers. This system is being replaced by a computerized telephone system.
Most stevedoring contractors in the Gulf Coast region retain a few gangs to ensure having a minimum number of crews immediately available when jobs arise. If additional workers are needed, contractors "borrow" spare gangs from other contractors on a daily basis.
Employment Outlook
Advancement is slow and limited to the range of the various jobs on the dock. A practical knowledge of various tools enables a worker to advance. Occasionally, dock workers start their own stevedoring companies. Others may advance by be-coming pier superintendents or steamship representatives.
New York, Philadelphia, and New Orleans, the nation's largest ports, employ the largest number of dock workers. The employment outlook varies by region. The Great Lakes area, for example, needs trained workers because the stevedoring industry there is expanding. However, the introduction of automated loading procedures has reduced job opportunities in many places. Most openings will occur as experienced workers retire or leave their jobs for other reasons.
Working Conditions
Work is often not guaranteed. Union members wait to be called. They must work quickly while the ships are in port; sometimes they have to work more than 24 hours at a stretch to load a ship before it sets sail. The work itself is hazardous and requires strength. Much of the loading and unloading takes place outdoors, so dock workers have to work in all kinds of weather.
Earnings and Benefits
Earnings for dock workers vary according to region. The pay is generally good, but the work is irregular. Workers earn an average of about $375 to $460 a week. Experienced workers on the East Coast can earn more than $30,000 a year. Dock workers on the West Coast can earn even more. Dock workers receive premium pay for overtime, holiday, and night work and for handling dangerous cargo such as explosives. Benefits include pensions, paid vacations, and medical and hospital coverage.
