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ILWU Waves-Off Pleas for Federal Contract Mediation

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ILWU Waves-Off Pleas for Federal Contract Mediation

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Los Angeles, CA – The International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) has reportedly waved-off calls for federal mediation to break a deadlock in contract negotiations to end an on-going work slowdown that has handicapped operations at 29 U.S. West Coast ports.

The union, which represents more than 20,000 dock workers at ports from Tacoma to San Diego, has said it wants the 11 members of the board of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to join in the negotiations that have stretched out since a six-year labor contract expired July 1.

The PMA, which represents the shipping lines and terminal operators at the ports, has accused the ILWU of instigating slowdowns since October to gain leverage at the bargaining table.

The union, which denies causing the bottle-necks, has countered saying the terminal operators and shipping lines themselves are largely to blame for bad business decisions that have disrupted port operations.

Chief among these, the union asserts, is the decision to out-source the tractor-trailer chassis used for hauling containers in to and out of cargo terminals from third-party logistics providers.

Last week, the San Francisco-headquartered PMA called for the ILWU to consent to federal mediation to help get the negotiations moving, saying “significant issues” including differences over wages, pensions and work rules “remain unresolved” after seven months of contract talks.

The two sides announced a provisional deal on health-care expenses in late August, without disclosing terms. Another issue is the retention of jobs for dockworkers as automation developments in cargo handling reduces the number of people needed to ‘work’ containerships.

The cargo back-ups at the ports have significantly impacted the flow of nearly half of U.S. maritime trade and more than 70 percent of imports from Asia.

Cargo that normally takes two or three days to clear the ports has faced lag times of up to two weeks, with productivity at some waterfronts cut by at least half, industry analysts say.

Last month, more than 160 associations and industry groups led by the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation addressed a letter to President Barack Obama “expressing our continued concerns with the status of the West Coast port labor negotiations and the impact the ongoing congestion and slowdowns are having on all segments of the economy.”

The letter urged the White House to name a federal mediator to referee the negotiations and break the deadlock, but the White House’s only response to the situation has been a statement released in November stating that the president was “hopeful the negotiations would come to a successful conclusion.”

The statement was in response to an earlier letter from the U.S. Senate delegations representing California, Oregon and Washington state detailing the negative impact of the situation and asking the president to name a federal mediator.

01/05/2015

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Frustration With White House Port Labor Inaction

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Los Angeles, CA – More than 160 associations and industry groups have addressed another letter to President Barack Obama “expressing our continued concerns with the status of the West Coast port labor negotiations and the impact the ongoing congestion and slowdowns are having on all segments of the economy.”

The groups represent a wide spectrum of U.S.-based manufacturers, farmers, wholesalers, retailers, importers, exporters, and transportation and logistics providers. The letter follows in its entirety:

Mr. President:

“We are seeking your help in moving the negotiations to mediation similar to what occurred during the contentious East Coast port labor negotiations in 2012.

“The labor contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) began on May 15, 2014 and it seems little progress has occurred since the contract expired on July 1, 2014.

Not Close to an Agreement

“While there was optimism with the latest exchange of comprehensive proposals last week, the recent statement by PMA that the parties are not close to an agreement and “remain far apart on several issues” is very concerning.

“Even after continued negotiations through this past weekend, the PMA has now officially asked for a Federal mediator to be assigned to help the parties achieve a final deal.

“It is imperative that the ILWU agree to the use of a mediator. We continue to see significant congestion at the ports which is impacting both imports and exports. While there are many reasons for the congestion beyond labor slowdowns, industry cannot begin to develop solutions until a new contract is finally resolved.

“We are extremely concerned the negotiations will now slip into 2015 and continue to cause problems for all industries that rely on the ports.

The Impact from ‘Congestion and Slowdowns’

“Importers, exporters and others are feeling the impact from the congestion and slowdowns at the ports. There have been daily news stories about the impacts on industries that rely on the ports to get their products to market.

“Retailers have had delays in getting holiday goods to store shelves. Manufacturers have had to slow and even stop production lines due to unavailable components delayed at the ports, creating high-levels of uncertainty for workers and employers who are aiming to deliver products to domestic and global customers.

“Potato farmers and apple growers have missed shipments to overseas markets, potentially closing those markets to future sales. There have even been reports of cancelled Christmas tree shipments to Asian markets.

“The longer these negotiations continue, the greater the negative impact this will have on jobs, down-stream consumers, and the business operations of exporters, importers, retailers, transportation providers, manufacturers, and other stakeholders. Our organizations continue to believe that both parties can reach an agreement that will ensure the continued success and competitiveness of these ports for the foreseeable future. “However, after seven months of negotiations with little progress, we believe federal mediation is needed to help them reach a conclusion.

With an official request from the PMA for a mediator, we urge the administration to work with both parties to appoint a mediator from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) in order to help them conclude their negotiations as quickly as possible.”

The letter was endorsed by, among others, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, American Apparel & Footwear Association, American Association of Exporters and Importers, American Association of Port Authorities, American Trucking Associations, California Farm Bureau Federation, Columbia River Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association, Coalition of New England Companies for Trade, Customs Brokers and International Freight Forwarders of Washington State, Fashion Accessories Shippers Association, Food Marketing Institute, Green Coffee Association, Indiana State Poultry Association, Intermodal Association of North America, International Dairy Foods Association, International Warehouse and Logistics Association, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Retailers Association, and the Montana Retail Association.

Also signing the letter were the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, National Association of Manufacturers, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Electrical Manufacturers Association, National Customs Brokers and Forwarders of America, National Retail Federation, National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council, North American Export Grain Association, North American Meat Association, North American Shippers Association, NY/NJ Foreign Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers, Orange County Business Council, Oregon Department of Agriculture, Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders, Pacific Northwest Asia Shippers Association, Texas Cotton Association, The National Industrial Transportation League, United Fresh Produce Association, United States Council for International Business, United States Fashion Industry Association, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Meat Export Federation, U.S. Shippers Association, Washington Council on International Trade, Washington Retail Association, and the Wine Institute.

The letter was also sent to all members of Congress, Department of Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx, Department of Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, Department of Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez, Federal Maritime Commission Chairman Mario Cordero, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Acting Director Allison Beck, and the governors of California, Oregon and Washington.

12/26/2014

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Another Appeal for White House Action on Port Talks

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Los Angeles, CA – The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) has joined the chorus of national organizations with a letter to the White House urging to appoint a federal mediator to administer the ongoing contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA).

“America’s seaports are absolutely vital to our economy, jobs and international competitiveness,” said Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and CEO.  “At this tender stage of the economic recovery, our nation simply cannot afford disruptions, let alone a shutdown, of any part of the ports system.”

Contract negotiations between the ILWU and the PMA have dragged on since the end of May with work slowdowns at the 29 U.S. West Coast ports affected by the talks significantly cutting into cargo volumes. Particularly impacted are the major ‘load center’ ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma.

After seven months of labor negotiations without an agreement being reached, he said, “we believe that federal mediation is now necessary to prevent the significant economic repercussions that can occur whenever there is uncertainty and unpredictability in the movement of international commerce through our ports.”

According to the port group, international trade accounts for nearly one-third of the U.S. economy with the country’s seaports handling more than 99 percent of the nation’s overseas imports and exports, amounting to more than 2 billion tons of goods annually.

“This mammoth flow of trade supports more than 13 million American jobs and generates over $200 billion a year in tax revenues. Disruptions to this trade flow hurt American businesses and farmers, cost American consumers and impede America’s ability to compete in international markets,” wrote Nagle.

Over the last several weeks, a coalition of businesses and trade organizations, led by the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation, have communicated with the White House urging the President to take action, while Congressional delegations from California, Oregon and Washington have also communicated with the White House calling for executive action.

In mid-November, the White House issued a statement from the President saying that he was “confident” the negotiations would come to a successful conclusion.

12/18/2014

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Holiday Imports Decline as Port Issues Linger

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Los Angeles – Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to continue to slow down this month as cargo congestion and other issues continue to impact port operations on the U.S. West Coast.

The volume slide is a result of “far-sighted retailers instituting costly contingency plans early on to ensure that holiday merchandise would be on the shelves or sitting in a warehouse ready to go,” according to National Retail Federation Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold.

“However, we are still hearing from retailers experiencing delays at West Coast ports, and retailers are also looking ahead to the spring season,” he said, commenting on the most recent Global Port Tracker report released today by the NRF.

“We believe it’s imperative for President Obama to encourage the parties to seek the help of a federal mediator to resolve the ongoing contract negotiations so serious solutions to address the ongoing issues can be discussed and the uncertainty that has plagued our nation’s busiest ports for months can finally be brought to an end.”

A major transpacific shipping alliance – the G6 – has reacted to the congestion problem by suspending eastbound calls at the Port of Los Angeles for the next four sailings of its Asia-U.S. West Coast service, due to “ongoing congestion.”

The G6 is comprised of APL, Hapag-Lloyd, Hyundai Merchant Marine, MOL, NYK Line and OOCL.
It’s also been reported that G6 will skip other calls at APL’s Global Gateway South terminal in Los Angeles in order to “remain fluid,” according to an APL customer advisory.

Carriers calling Los Angeles and other U.S. West Coast ports have been significantly impacted by chronic backlogs that have plagued the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex over the past few months.

The congestion in Southern California is due to a combination of chronic issues plaguing both Los Angeles and the neighboring Port of Long Beach that include a shortage of the chassis need to move containers in and out of the ports; unrest amongst truckers required to meet what they feel are increasingly burdensome environmental regulations; and labor negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) that have dragged on for months with, some feel, no end in sight.

The contract between the PMA and the ILWU expired on July 1, prompting ongoing concerns about the potential shift of cargo to ports on the U.S. East Coast.

The NRF report was researched by business consultancy Hackett Associates.

According to Hackett Associates President Ben Hackett, “The question is whether cargo currently being diverted to the East Coast will shift back to the West Coast once congestion in Los Angeles/Long Beach ends or are we experiencing a longer-term shift?” Hackett said. “Time will tell.”

12/09/2014

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Shippers Steam as Port Negotiators Take a Thanksgiving Break

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Los Angeles, CA – The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) is being slammed for refusing to hold “big table” West Coast labor contract talks during a 12-day break that extends through the Thanksgiving weekend.

“Three weeks after initiating a coordinated series of slowdowns that have plagued the major West Coast ports of Tacoma, Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles and Long Beach, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union has now taken its slowdown tactics to the bargaining table,” the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), the other party in the negotiations, said in an angry statement.

As a result of the ILWU’s decision, the PMA said, “the only bargaining through December 1 will be limited to subcommittees discussing “limited” issues.

No Contract Extension

“Making matters worse, the ILWU is refusing to agree to a temporary contract extension – similar to one it signed over the summer – despite multiple requests,” the PMA said.

A contract extension, the PMA said, “would give both parties access to the well-established waterfront grievance process, and most notably would give employers recourse for the ILWU slowdowns that are continuing.”

The Thanksgiving break “and the Union’s refusal to extend the contract are taking place amid continuing worker slowdowns, which began on Halloween in Tacoma and soon spread to Seattle, Oakland, Los Angeles and Long Beach.”

In some ports, the PMA charged, “productivity remains 30 percent or more below normal, as a result of orchestrated ILWU maneuvers.”

This productivity loss, it said, “is distinct” from the congestion that has caused severe congestion at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

“In fact, those two ports were the only major West Coast ports that experienced congestion prior to ILWU slowdowns, and the ILWU has knowingly made the situation in Southern California worse by failing to dispatch qualified crane operators per longstanding practice – the same skilled workers who can help to alleviate yard congestion,” the PMA said.

National Retail Federation Responds

In reaction to the break in contract talks, the National Retail Federation (NRF) is repeating its call on the White House “to immediately engage the parties to get them back to the negotiating table.”

According to a statement from NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay, “After six months of negotiations we have seen very little progress. It’s time the parties accept a federal mediator to help them bridge the gaps and arrive at a new contract.

Without a contract, he said, “stakeholders cannot work on addressing the ongoing congestion issues at the ports.

The nation’s retailers and our vendors, suppliers and customers are counting on the two parties to act responsibly.”

Earlier this year, NRF and the National Association of Manufacturers released a report that found a shutdown at 29 U.S. West Coast ports from Seattle to San Diego would cost the economy about $2 billion a day.

11/21/2014

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No USWC Port Labor Contract Worries Retailers

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Washington, DC – Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to see a final surge and set a new monthly record in October as the holiday season approaches, according to the National Retail Foundation’s monthly Global Port Tracker report.

“Increasing congestion at the nation’s ports, as well as the ongoing West Coast labor negotiations, are ongoing concerns and retailers are making one last push to make sure they’re stocked up for the holidays,” said Jonathan Gold, the NRF’s vice president for Supply Chain and Customs Policy.

“Retailers are working hard to make sure customers can find what they’re looking for regardless of what happens at the ports.”

The contract between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) affecting cargo movement at US West Coast (USWC) ports expired on July 1, prompting concerns among the nations’s retailers and others about potential disruptions that could affect back-to-school or holiday merchandise.

The Washington, DC-based NRF recently sent a letter to the heads of the PMA and the ILWU urging a speedy, successful conclusion to their on-going negotiations.

Dockworkers remain on the job as negotiations continue but the lack of a contract and operational issues “have led to record congestion” at ports from Seattle to San Diego, the industry group said.

“Finalizing a new labor contract is an absolutely critical component to working through the backlog of shipping containers now piling up at West Coast ports,” the letter read. “We are deeply troubled by the fact that no apparent progress has been made in the negotiations since August, when the PMA and ILWU announced a ‘tentative deal’ on health benefits.”

The NRF, the largest retail industry group in the world, chided both groups for their lack of transparency, saying that, “Whether intentional or not, the fact that neither the PMA nor ILWU has made any public progress report in more than a month is sending a very troublesome and disconcerting signal.”

Shippers, the NRF said, “look for certainty when making strategic long-term supply chain investments, or for placing transportation orders for discretionary cargo.”

The ongoing negotiations “and the degradation of operating efficiency, specifically at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, is making the region unattractive for future investment and will lead to a permanent shift of cargo,” the letter concluded.

Import volume at US ports covered by the Global Port Tracker report is expected to total 1.53 million containers this month, topping the 1.52 million monthly record set in August. Cargo volume has been well above average each month since spring as retailers have imported merchandise early in case of any disruption on the docks.

The 1.52 million TEUs (Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit cargo containers) handled in August, the latest month for which after-the-fact numbers are available, was up 1.5 percent from July and 2.1 percent from August 2013.

The import numbers come as NRF is forecasting 4.1 percent holiday season sales growth and 3.6 percent growth for all of 2014.

Global Port Tracker, which is produced for NRF by the consulting firm Hackett Associates, covers the ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma on the US West Coast; New York/New Jersey, Hampton Roads, Charleston, Savannah, Port Everglades and Miami on the US East Coast, and Houston on the US Gulf Coast.

10/10/2014

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Update: West Coast Longshore Talks Continue

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Los Angeles – The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have resumed contract negotiations.

Both groups took a four-day break in the talks as ILWU representatives attended unrelated contract negotiations with grain handlers in the Pacific Northwest.

According to a joint statement, the talks, so far have been “productive” with both the PMA and the ILWU pledging to “keep cargo moving through US West Coast ports during the negotiations.”

The six-year contract between dockworkers and the employers who operate port terminal and shipping lines expired on July 1. It covers workers at 29 ports from San Diego, California to Bellingham, Washington.

In the weeks preceding the expiration of the original contract, businesses across the country, and overseas, were concerned about the possibility of a work stoppage that could have paralyzed the movement of cargo through US West Coast ports including the major container load centers in Los Angeles/Long Beach, Oakland, and Seattle/Tacoma.

In 2002, a breakdown in labor negotiations resulted in a 10-day lockout at the 29 ports that was estimated to have cost the US economy $1 billion a day with the supply chains of some companies seriously ‘kinked’ for up to six months afterwards.

At the time, a week before the July 1 expiration date, Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy for the National Retail Federation (NRF), said, “Folks are nervous about what’s going to happen once the contract expires.”

The concern was underscored by the fact that, during the months of July through September, retailers such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc and Target Corp receive ocean shipments of goods sold during their critical back-to-school and holiday shopping seasons, he said.

Past experience shows that labor negotiations at West Coast ports typically extend beyond the contract expiration date with the current round of talks possibly extending into September, according to some sources.

08/04/2014

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No Work Disruptions at West Coast Ports, Say PMA, ILWU

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Los Angeles, CA – Despite the failure to hammer out a contract by today’s 5:00 p.m. PST deadline, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA)  and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have announced that there will be no disruption of cargo handling activity at 29 ports from Tacoma to San Diego.

Both the PMA and the ILWU issued a joint statement saying that, “While there will be no contract extension, cargo will keep moving and normal operations will continue at the ports until an agreement can be reached.”

The PMA represents terminal operators and ocean carriers with the ILWU representing the 20,000 longshoremen that work the docks at what are some of the busiest container ports in the country.

Both sides, the statement said, “understand the strategic importance of the ports to the local, regional and US economies, and are mindful of the need to finalize a new coast-wide contract as soon as possible to ensure continuing confidence in the West Coast ports and avoid any disruption to the jobs and commerce they support.”

It’s not unusual for PMA-ILWU negotiations at West Coast ports to extend beyond the contract expiration date. The current round of negotiations could stretch through to the end of this month.

“The negotiators will keep negotiating, the workers will keep working,” said Craig Merrilees, spokesman for the ILWU last week. In 2002, a breakdown in negotiations resulted in a 10-day lockout at West Coast ports that resulted in an 11-day port shutdown that analysts said cost the US economy $1 billion a day and disrupted supply chains for six months.

7/01/2014

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Secrecy of ILWU, PMA Contract Talks Blasted

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Los Angeles, CA – The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) should “part the curtain of secrecy surrounding their contract negotiations,” according to Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Gary Toebben.

The deadline for reaching agreement on a new labor contract governing America’s 29 West Coast ports passed at 5 p.m. PST this afternoon “and the scant amount of insight or information on the future status of a new contract worries many,” he said.

Toebben made his comments in an editorial for the Los Angeles Daily News published on the paper’s website  just a few hours before the contract deadline expired.

The last public statement on the progress of the talks was made on June 4 when the negotiations were described as “positive” by the leadership of both the PMA and the ILWU.

“About 12.5 percent of the US GDP currently flows through the ports, and 9.2 million jobs across America — including 3.7 million in California alone — depend on the efficient flow of goods on and off the docks,” he wrote.

“Industries spanning agriculture to manufacturing, from autos to electronics, and across all sectors of retail are currently scampering to implement contingency plans given that neither a new contract nor a contract extension has been announced, he said.”

Both the PMA, which represents the terminal operators and shipping companies, and the ILWU, which represents the 20,000 dock workers at the ports in California, Oregon and Washington, he said “are staying tight-lipped about the talks that have been ongoing for two months.”

It has been widely reported, Toebben added, “that rising health care costs are a major sticking point, given that the longshoremen, retirees and their families enjoy one of the most envied health care plans available in America today, with unlimited coverage at little or no cost.”

Also, he said, “it’s also understood that West Coast ports have been leaking market share for the past decade or more, as competing ports on America’s East and Gulf coasts have been lowering costs, improving performance and building infrastructure to attract greater shipping volumes. Global manufacturing patterns too are shifting, putting more origination points closer to East and Gulf coast destinations.”

Decrying the loss of cargo marketshare, Toebben said, “Suddenly, the West Coast is not the monopoly it used to be — and current lack of an agreement or extension only hastens shippers’ efforts to further diversify their transportation networks. In Southern California, the information ‘blackout’ by PMA and ILWU only fuels the worries of employees, families, politicians, communities and businesses small and large, who together wonder if we’ll see a repeat of 2002’s billion-dollar-per-day coast-wide shut down.”

Information, he charges, “is limited, but the questions aren’t – how close are the parties to reaching a new contract?; what issues have already been fully resolved, and which still remain?; will an extension be formalized to assuage concerns while talks continue?; will the union engage in work slowdowns if an extension can’t be signed?; and, can the ports continue to operate efficiently, with everyday issues and grievances resolved amicably, without an extension?

“Given the critical importance of the ports in today’s local and regional economies, and for the sake of the millions of people who depend on the uninterrupted flow of goods in and out of America,” Toebben concluded. “Such transparency is essential, especially given what is at stake now — and for years to come.”

07/01/2014

 

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Deadline Looms for US West Coast Port Contract

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Los Angeles, CA – As the possibility of a crippling work stoppage at 30 US West Coast ports looms on the horizon, a study just released by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the National Retail Federation (NRF) outlines what impact such an event would have on the US economy.

Closed-door negotiations have been underway for more than a month between the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents terminal operators, and the International Longshoremen & Warehouse Union to craft a contract that would frame the work of more than 14,000 dock workers at container load centers from Puget Sound to San Diego.

The current contract expires at 5:00 pm, July 1. If no contract has been agreed to by the deadline, both the PMA, which represents the terminal operators, and the ILWU could agree to extend the existing agreement into August, but there is no guarantee as past contract negotiations between the two groups have historically been contentious.

According to the joint NAM-NRF study, “a prolonged strike between the negotiating parties could lead to reduced or shuttered terminal operations for an extended period. If such disruptions occur, the economic impact would be significant and widespread” and the repercussions “would grow with time.”

A 5-day stoppage, the study said, would reduce the country’s GDP $1.9 billion a day, disrupt 73,000 jobs, and cost the average household $81 in purchasing power, while a 10-day stoppage would cut GDP by $2.1 billion a day, impact 169,000 jobs; and cost the average household $170 in purchasing power.

A port closure of 20 days would slash GDP by $2.5 billion a day; affect 450,000 jobs; and cut the average household’s purchasing power by $366, the study said.

“Understanding the Consequences”

“It is important for the parties at the table as well as others to fully understand the economic consequences of a port disruption,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Any supply chain disruption, whether it’s a port slowdown or outright stoppage, would cripple international trade, stymie supply chains and hurt domestic employment and consumer spending.”

For retailers and their customers, a port closure, “would mean a delay in back-to-school and holiday shipments that could significantly drive up consumer prices,” Shay said.

Manufacturers, said NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons said, “depend on the ability of West Coast ports to efficiently move cargo valued at 12.5 percent of US GDP. A shutdown would erode that figure and inflict long-term damage to our competitiveness as manufacturers and as a nation. The parties must come to an agreement before the current contract expires.”

In 2002, negotiations between the PMA and the ILWU failed with the resulting 11-day port shutdown imposing such havoc on the national economy that then-President George W. Bush had to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to order both parties back to work.

A research report published at the time by the University of California at Berkeley estimated that total cost of shutting down the West Coast ports was about $2 billion a day in lost business and tax revenue from sales and wages. The strike also created a backlog of cargo that took weeks to alleviate.

Traditionally ILWU-PMA contracts cover three years. But after the 2002 lockout, a six-year contract was instituted as a way of ensuring labor stability for a longer time.

The six-year duration was renewed again in 2008 as the economy was struggling and stability was again a priority. In the current negotiations, the three-year term is again back on the table.

06/26/2014