Yesterday, the PMA (Pacific Maritime Association) announced the temporary suspension of premium-pay weekend and holiday vessel operations. This impacts 29 West Coast ports on four of the next five days: Thursday, 2/12 (Lincoln’s Birthday); Saturday, 2/14; Sunday, 2/15; and Monday, 2/16 (Washington’s Birthday). The PMA indicated that yard, rail and gate operations would continue at terminal operators’ discretion.
In the PMA announcement, PMA spokesman Wade Gates said, “[The ILWU] continued slowdowns that will soon bring West Coast ports to gridlock. What they’re doing amounts to a strike with pay, and we will reduce the extent to which we pay premium rates for such a strike.”
The PMA suspended weekend vessel operations last weekend as well.
Additionally, the situation is catching the attention of national media, such as: NBC, CBS, ABC, and others.
You can see additional updates and background of the situation on the MIQ Logistics Ocean Freight Forwarding Market Update.
For more information, please contact your local MIQ Logistics representative.