Ken MacLean Interview: Dispatching and Building ILWU Local 505
Ken MacLean was a member of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 505 located in Prince Rupert for 25 years and never missed a union meeting. He held the position of Secretary Treasurer/Dispatcher for 12 years.
This interview was conducted by Rod Mickleburgh on September 5, 2019 in Prince Rupert, BC. It is part of our Oral History Collection.
Ken MacLean was a member of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 505 located in Prince Rupert for 25 years and never missed a union meeting. He held the position of Secretary Treasurer/Dispatcher for 12 years. During his time, MacLean saw the membership of the local union grow from 29 to over 400. Early dispatching was done first by “cutting cards” and then by using blackboards to record names and shifts. Containerization and technology changed longshoring in his time. He observed the decline of other industries in Prince Rupert including the pulp mill, fishing and canneries.