News
Conflicts between labor and management at U.S. West Coast ports have intensified. Disputes were ignited last week at Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma, Seattle and elsewhere, where labor shortages have led to terminal closures.
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) members have staged devastating labor actions at Los Angeles and Long Beach, shutting down operations at some terminals, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents employers, said last Friday. There have been similar situations at Oakland, Tacoma, Seattle and Hueneme, it added.
The media has reported breakdowns in wage negotiations, but the ILWU indicated that such ports are all untrue. ILWU Local 13 said that dockworkers remain on duty, meaning that cargo is still being handled at ports. It stressed that it will not compromise, saying that it will hold fair and equitable negotiations with the PMA.
The PMA and the ILWU reached a tentative deal in April. They appeared to agree on terminal automation at that time, the most important issue between them. They, however, continued to hold wage negotiations. The ILWU has demanded a wage hike of $7.5 per hour for each year of six-year contracts, but the PMA has only proposed an increase of $1.56. Taking inflation rates into consideration, the PMA proposal would actually be a pay cut. Union members have reacted harshly to it, staging full-scale work actions.
