QUESTIONS FOR CONTRACT FOREMAN | QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS STUDY GUIDE & PRACTICE
TEST (2026/2027)
If there is dead time due are the cargo penalty rates paid for the dead time hours? - ANS ✔✔no
what are men paid if told to stand-by initially due to bad weather? - ANS ✔✔4 hour minimum
unless ordered back after lunch then the entire shift
what is the minimum pay for men that are turned to but then stood-by due to bad weather? -
ANS ✔✔4 hours, unless orderd back after lunch then they are entiteled to the whole shift
what is the minimum pay for men that turn to IN bad weather? - ANS ✔✔8 hours
what is the minimum paid to men that are fired? - ANS ✔✔time worked
is there any minimum for those that lose hours due to ILWU unilateral action, illness, or injury? -
ANS ✔✔time worked
what is the orginization of a basic ship gang for break bulk operations? - ANS ✔✔1. gang boss
(in ports that use them) 2. skilled deck men as needed 3. 2 front men 4. 2 key hold 5. 2 hold
are extra men need for general cargo when loading/unloading by hand (piece by piece)? - ANS
✔✔yes, 2 extra for discharge and 4 extra for loading
Is a Key Hold required to do manual labor when a lift is in the hatch? - ANS ✔✔no, he is there to
operate the lift
who is to drive a lift when put into a hatch? - ANS ✔✔the key hold, and he is not required to do
manual work
,how many extra men are need on loading operations on general cargo? - ANS ✔✔if the loads
are not moved after being landed then no extra men, if they are moved afterward with a lift
(any mechanical means) then one extra man per key hold, and 4 extra if the loads are stowed by
hand
how many extra men are need for discharge operations on general cargo? - ANS ✔✔if the loads
are preslung or require of slings or similar devices then only the basic gang, if a machine is
introduced to take the loads to the point of discharge then 1 extra man per key hold, and 2
extra men if discharged by hand.
why are there 2 K/H, 2H and 2 swing in a general cargo gang? - ANS ✔✔the 2 K/H & 2H are
there due to the requirements in the contract, but he swing are required when a lift is
introduced into the hatch
are additional men needed when a basic general cargo gang is used to uncover, cover, or rig? -
ANS ✔✔no
can a basic general cargo gang be assigned to dock work? - ANS ✔✔yes, and they can work any
hatch as needed or shifted in accordance with the contract
can extra men be added to a gang, from another gang, to fulfill their 8 hour garuantee? - ANS
✔✔no
if minimum manning for an existing operation is to be changed how is that done? - ANS
✔✔through the grievance process at the COAST LRC level at the request of the employers or
the union
What is the manning for a robot gang? - ANS ✔✔1. skilled deck men as needed (dwd) 2. K/H as
needed 3. minimum of 2 basic longshoremen 4. 2 xtra basic men if hand stowing is needed
,what is the manning for a LASH operation for NON - break bulk cargo that is hand-handled? -
ANS ✔✔skilled or basic men as determined by the employer
what is the manning for a LASH operation for break bulk cargo that is hand-handled? - ANS
✔✔skilled men as determined by the employer, and 4 holdmen
if a grievance or dispute arrises on the job can the men stand-by? - ANS ✔✔no, only on health
and safety or onerousness
if there is a health and safety issue whose choice is it to stand by? - ANS ✔✔the employer can
have the men stand by and wait for a decision to be reached OR have the men work around the
disputed issue/situation
if there is a onerous work situation whose choice is it to have the men stand by? - ANS ✔✔the
employer can have the men stand by and wait for a decision to be reached OR have the men
work around the disputed issue/situation
if a man takes his own relief does that mean the rest of the unit is under an onerous workload?
- ANS ✔✔no, neither is reduction of manning due to the introduction of technology or more
efficient operations
who are the only men that can take a health and safety issue to the general foreman? - ANS
✔✔the steward must take an issue first to his immediate supervisor, and these two men can
take the issue to the general forman
if the steward and foremen cannot reach an agreement on how to remedy a health and safety
issue what else can be done? - ANS ✔✔the BA is called and the BA and the foreman try to come
to an agreement
if a situation is deemed to be safe are the men required to go back to work? - ANS ✔✔yes, and
if they fail to do so it is grounds to be fired
, if the men stand by on health and safety are they garuanteed to get paid for stand by time? -
ANS ✔✔only if it is deemed to be a bona fide issue, if it is not then no pay
can a man leave the work place while on stand by for a health and safety or onerousness issue?
- ANS ✔✔only under the direction of the walking boss, if he leaves without calling a reap then
he shall be fired
are men paid for stand by on health and safety if the job is deemed unsafe through mutual
agreement or arbitrators decree? - ANS ✔✔yes they are paid for standby
if men standby on health and safety do they have to make up the time? - ANS ✔✔not on health
and safety, only on onerousness do they have to make up time on stand by and only if the
operation is deemed to NOT have been onerous
how much make up time is allowed for? - ANS ✔✔the employer may elect to have the men
make up all stand by time if the operation is NOT deemed onerous. But the men can not work
more than 10 hours total, and are due over time AFTER make-up time is made up. (eg. as I
understand it : 1 hour of standby w/ a nononerous award means the men will work 1 hour past
normal quiting time WITHOUT OT, and 1 hour of ot to finish. if 3 hours of make up then the
employer gets only 2 hours past normal quitting time and the men get no OT)
are the men paid for stand by time during a dispute about onerousness? - ANS ✔✔only if the
operation is deemed onerous under the empoyer's original direction, if not deemed onerous
then no pay for stand by
what is the difference between a 13.2 complaint and a 13.3? - ANS ✔✔13.2 is for specific
incidents of discrimination and filed against an individual and 13.3 is for when a contractual rule
(or application thereof) is discriminatory and is filed against institutions
TEST (2026/2027)
If there is dead time due are the cargo penalty rates paid for the dead time hours? - ANS ✔✔no
what are men paid if told to stand-by initially due to bad weather? - ANS ✔✔4 hour minimum
unless ordered back after lunch then the entire shift
what is the minimum pay for men that are turned to but then stood-by due to bad weather? -
ANS ✔✔4 hours, unless orderd back after lunch then they are entiteled to the whole shift
what is the minimum pay for men that turn to IN bad weather? - ANS ✔✔8 hours
what is the minimum paid to men that are fired? - ANS ✔✔time worked
is there any minimum for those that lose hours due to ILWU unilateral action, illness, or injury? -
ANS ✔✔time worked
what is the orginization of a basic ship gang for break bulk operations? - ANS ✔✔1. gang boss
(in ports that use them) 2. skilled deck men as needed 3. 2 front men 4. 2 key hold 5. 2 hold
are extra men need for general cargo when loading/unloading by hand (piece by piece)? - ANS
✔✔yes, 2 extra for discharge and 4 extra for loading
Is a Key Hold required to do manual labor when a lift is in the hatch? - ANS ✔✔no, he is there to
operate the lift
who is to drive a lift when put into a hatch? - ANS ✔✔the key hold, and he is not required to do
manual work
,how many extra men are need on loading operations on general cargo? - ANS ✔✔if the loads
are not moved after being landed then no extra men, if they are moved afterward with a lift
(any mechanical means) then one extra man per key hold, and 4 extra if the loads are stowed by
hand
how many extra men are need for discharge operations on general cargo? - ANS ✔✔if the loads
are preslung or require of slings or similar devices then only the basic gang, if a machine is
introduced to take the loads to the point of discharge then 1 extra man per key hold, and 2
extra men if discharged by hand.
why are there 2 K/H, 2H and 2 swing in a general cargo gang? - ANS ✔✔the 2 K/H & 2H are
there due to the requirements in the contract, but he swing are required when a lift is
introduced into the hatch
are additional men needed when a basic general cargo gang is used to uncover, cover, or rig? -
ANS ✔✔no
can a basic general cargo gang be assigned to dock work? - ANS ✔✔yes, and they can work any
hatch as needed or shifted in accordance with the contract
can extra men be added to a gang, from another gang, to fulfill their 8 hour garuantee? - ANS
✔✔no
if minimum manning for an existing operation is to be changed how is that done? - ANS
✔✔through the grievance process at the COAST LRC level at the request of the employers or
the union
What is the manning for a robot gang? - ANS ✔✔1. skilled deck men as needed (dwd) 2. K/H as
needed 3. minimum of 2 basic longshoremen 4. 2 xtra basic men if hand stowing is needed
,what is the manning for a LASH operation for NON - break bulk cargo that is hand-handled? -
ANS ✔✔skilled or basic men as determined by the employer
what is the manning for a LASH operation for break bulk cargo that is hand-handled? - ANS
✔✔skilled men as determined by the employer, and 4 holdmen
if a grievance or dispute arrises on the job can the men stand-by? - ANS ✔✔no, only on health
and safety or onerousness
if there is a health and safety issue whose choice is it to stand by? - ANS ✔✔the employer can
have the men stand by and wait for a decision to be reached OR have the men work around the
disputed issue/situation
if there is a onerous work situation whose choice is it to have the men stand by? - ANS ✔✔the
employer can have the men stand by and wait for a decision to be reached OR have the men
work around the disputed issue/situation
if a man takes his own relief does that mean the rest of the unit is under an onerous workload?
- ANS ✔✔no, neither is reduction of manning due to the introduction of technology or more
efficient operations
who are the only men that can take a health and safety issue to the general foreman? - ANS
✔✔the steward must take an issue first to his immediate supervisor, and these two men can
take the issue to the general forman
if the steward and foremen cannot reach an agreement on how to remedy a health and safety
issue what else can be done? - ANS ✔✔the BA is called and the BA and the foreman try to come
to an agreement
if a situation is deemed to be safe are the men required to go back to work? - ANS ✔✔yes, and
if they fail to do so it is grounds to be fired
, if the men stand by on health and safety are they garuanteed to get paid for stand by time? -
ANS ✔✔only if it is deemed to be a bona fide issue, if it is not then no pay
can a man leave the work place while on stand by for a health and safety or onerousness issue?
- ANS ✔✔only under the direction of the walking boss, if he leaves without calling a reap then
he shall be fired
are men paid for stand by on health and safety if the job is deemed unsafe through mutual
agreement or arbitrators decree? - ANS ✔✔yes they are paid for standby
if men standby on health and safety do they have to make up the time? - ANS ✔✔not on health
and safety, only on onerousness do they have to make up time on stand by and only if the
operation is deemed to NOT have been onerous
how much make up time is allowed for? - ANS ✔✔the employer may elect to have the men
make up all stand by time if the operation is NOT deemed onerous. But the men can not work
more than 10 hours total, and are due over time AFTER make-up time is made up. (eg. as I
understand it : 1 hour of standby w/ a nononerous award means the men will work 1 hour past
normal quiting time WITHOUT OT, and 1 hour of ot to finish. if 3 hours of make up then the
employer gets only 2 hours past normal quitting time and the men get no OT)
are the men paid for stand by time during a dispute about onerousness? - ANS ✔✔only if the
operation is deemed onerous under the empoyer's original direction, if not deemed onerous
then no pay for stand by
what is the difference between a 13.2 complaint and a 13.3? - ANS ✔✔13.2 is for specific
incidents of discrimination and filed against an individual and 13.3 is for when a contractual rule
(or application thereof) is discriminatory and is filed against institutions
