Shippers frustrated by job actions at Calif. ports

The dock workers' union and the shippers are seeking to avoid a repeat of a bitter labor dispute at West Coast ports that led to a 10-day lockout in 2002 and caused an estimated $15 billion in economic losses.

By DAISY NGUYEN
The Associated Press

7/25/2008

SAN FRANCISCO — West Coast shippers said Thursday that dockworkers at three California ports are intentionally slowing cargo movement and causing shipping delays as the two sides continue to negotiate a new contract.

For nearly two weeks, workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have been taking coordinated breaks and working slower, causing productivity to drop and forcing terminal operators to request more crews to help move goods, said Kevin Elliott, a spokesman for Pacific Maritime Association, which represents 71 shipping companies and terminal operators.

He said a few vessels have sailed away from the twin ports without all the necessary containers in order to stay on schedule.

Workers at the port of Oakland began taking similar job actions since Sunday, Elliott said.

“It’s been frustrating,” he said. “This is not the kind of context you want around the bargaining table.”

Since March the PMA and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have been in negotiations for a new three-year contract. About 26,000 workers at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington have been working without a contract since July 1.

“It’s no surprise that everyone is frustrated and running low on patience,” union spokesman Craig Merrilees said. “Perhaps we are drinking a little more coffee than before. But what’s important is the ports are opened and things are moving.”

He said both sides were talking and that they’re on track to reach an agreement “in the near future.”

The union and the shippers are seeking to avoid a repeat of a bitter labor dispute that led to a 10-day lockout in 2002 and caused an estimated $15 billion in economic losses.