Port operations further disrupted amid labor negotiations

By City News Service

The Pacific Maritime Association,the industry group representing shippers, issued a statement Thursday accusing the union that represents West Coast dockworkers of continued disruptive actions at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach amid protracted labor negotiations. Both parties are negotiat- ing new contracts with priorities in wages and the role of automation. The old contract with the association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union expired July 1.

“Last week, ILWU Local 13 withheld labor that shut down terminals throughout the port of Los Angeles and Long Beach,” said the Pacific

Maritime Association in a statement. “This week, the union has unilaterally delayed the standard dispatch process, which is jointly administered by PMA and ILWU, and refused to allow PMA’s participation in the labor dispatch process.”

PMA said ILWU’s actions slowed the start of operations throughout the Southern California port complex and forced crucial cargo handling equipment to be taken out of operation at several key terminals.

“This latest work action comes about a month after ILWU Local 13 in Southern California stopped complying with a contract provision providing employers the right to assign staggered shifts during meal periods so cargo encampments within 500 feet of a “sensitive” facility including schools, daycare facilities, parks and libraries.

Other affected areas include: within 500 feet of a designated overpass, underpass, freeway ramp, tunnel, bridge, pedestrian bridge, subway, wash or spreading ground, railroad track, or where lodging unsheltered or in tents is unhealthy, unsafe and incompatible with safe passage; and within 1,000 feet of a facility opened after Jan. 1, 2018, that provides shelter, safe sleeping, safe parking, or navigation centers for people experiencing homelessness. can continue to be received and delivered without interruption,” said the PMA in a statement.

The ordinance allows the city to prevent encampments for a period of no longer than one year in areas that are deemed an ongoing threat to public health or safety, including due to: death or serious bodily injury of any person at the location due to a hazardous condition; repeated serious or violent crimes or threats of serious or violent crimes, including human trafficking; and fires at the location. The street engagement strategy also includes frameworks to conduct engagement during emergencies, including national disasters and public health matters.

The PMA further accused the union’s actions of threatening to accelerate the diversion of discretionary cargo to ports on the East and Gulf coasts.

“Cargo diversion places quality jobs at risk far beyond the docks, including truck drivers, warehouse workers and thousands of others whose livelihoods depend on ongoing operations at the port,” the PMA said in a statement.

ILWU did not respond to immediate requests for

See Labor negotiations Page 27