All West Coast Ports to Shutdown Over Holiday Weekend Amid Labor Strife

The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will again be partially shut down for four of the next five days as a labor dispute continues between port employers and the dockworkers’ union, the Pacific Maritime Association announced today.

According to the association, which represents port employers, vessel loading and unloading activities at the ports will be suspended tomorrow -- which is Lincoln’s birthday -- and on Saturday, Sunday and Monday -- which is Presidents Day -- so companies will not be forced to pay holiday and weekend salaries to union workers, whom they have accused of slowing port operations during the contract dispute.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has repeatedly denied taking part in a coordinated effort to slow port operations. Union officials have said employees are not given enough training opportunities so there are not enough qualified employees who can come to work.

Congestion at the ports in recent months has also been attributed by the union to industry-wide changes that include larger ships dropping off and picking up more cargo at the ports.

The two sides were set to resume formal negotiations this afternoon, but ILWU officials said employers cancelled the session.

“This is an effort by the employers to put economic pressure on our members and to gain leverage in contract talks,” ILWU President Robert McEllrath said. “The union is standing by ready to negotiate, as we have been for the past several days.”

Steve Getzug, spokesman for PMA, said directors of the association met this morning and decided it needed more time to prepare for negotiations, and are now scheduled to meet with the ILWU tomorrow.

According to the PMA, longshore workers and clerks would be paid between $54 and $75 an hour on the holiday and weekend days, while foremen would receive $77 to $92 an hour.

“PMA members have concluded that they will not conduct vessel operations on those dates, paying full shifts of ILWU workers such high rates for severely diminished productivity while the backlog of cargo at West Coast ports grows,” according to a statement from the association.

Although vessel operations will be halted, yard, gate and rail operations will continue at the ports, according to the association.

Vessel operations were also halted last weekend. The action by the PMA affects not only the Los Angeles/Long Beach complex, but all West Coast ports.

The ILWU blasted last weekend’s halt of vessel activity as “crazy and irresponsible.”

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