In 2009, ILWU members and Teamsters joined the Dutch dockers union at a demonstration outside of the Transamerica tower in San Francisco’s financial district. The Dutch dockers’ union, known as FNV Bondgenoten, was demanding the return of pension money from the giant multinational company, Aegon, who took the funds by using an accounting trick. After an international campaign, Aegon, who owns the Transamerica insurance empire, offered to return a portion of the funds. Because the Dutch dockers are still owed $400 million by Aegon, the ILWU held another support rally on June 2 at the Transamerica tower.
Rally participants at the noon event demanded that Aegon return all the money. Speakers included ILWU Vice President Ray Familathe, ILWU Secretary- Treasurer Willie Adams, Niek Stam, National Secretary for the Dutch dockers, Tim Paulson of the San Francisco Labor Council, and officials from the Teamsters union.
A giant jumbotron television screen, mounted atop a semi-truck, broadcast a 5-minute documentary, “The Truth About Aegon” that was produced by the Dutch dockers.