WCNYH

SPECIAL CRAFT LONGSHOREMAN REVOKED FOR REFUSING TO COOPERATE WITH THE COMMISSION’S INVESTIGATION OF THE JANUARY 29, 2016 ILLEGAL WALKOUT

September 13, 2016

     Mario Gutierrez, 49, a “Special Craft” longshoreman, from Jersey City, NJ, had his Waterfront registration revoked today following an administrative hearing for refusing to answer material questions at an Article IV interview. The interview, which occurred on February 18, 2016, was part of investigation by the Waterfront Commission into the cause of a work stoppage on January 29, 2016 by longshoremen in the Port of New York district. An arbitrator subsequently ruled that the work stoppage violated the collective bargaining agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the New York Shipping Association (NYSA).

     The Administrative Law Judge ruled that the Waterfront Commission had a “duty and responsibility to investigate all aspects of the serious work disruption of January 29, 2016.” The Judge further held that Gutierrez, who was repeatedly cautioned about the requirement to answer questions , refused to answer questions, interrupted Commission counsel with questions and comments of his own, and finally walked out of the hearing before its conclusion.

     Gutierrez had been a longshoreman since 2008.