A group of 166 trade associations is calling on President Obama to intervene in a labor fight that is threatening the flow of packages at ports along the West Coast.
The current contract between the union that represents West Coast port workers, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), was supposed to expire in July, but negotiators have thus far been unable to agree to more than temporary extensions.
American Journal of Transportation
The Temporary Empty Container Depot on Pier S at the Port of Long Beach is scheduled to open Dec. 29. The depot was approved by the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners in November to free up truck-trailer chassis and ease congestion on the docks at the second busiest seaport in North America.
The “good news story” of the season appears to be generated by officials at The Port of Oakland, who report that it has taken additional steps in an ongoing effort to manage a surge of inbound container vessel calls.
Harbor leaders will consider Monday three measures that could help give relief to truck drivers, shippers and other supply chain stakeholders feeling the pinch from bottlenecks at the Port of Long Beach.
The union for 20,000 dockworkers and a group of their employers at 29 U.S. West Coast ports say they are making slow but steady progress in months-long contract talks seen by the shipping industry as a contributing factor in chronic cargo backups.
Tired of the Los Angeles and Long Beach port congestion that has delayed shipments, Brian Jablon considered every other option to avoid delivering his toy goods through the twin ports.
A tentative agreement to resolve the West Coast longshoremen’s work slowdown may be reached before meetings between the union leaders begin on Dec. 15, representatives of the ports of Tacoma and Seattle told the Washington Apple Commission.
The heads of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach joined a group of stakeholders in asking President Obama to appoint a federal mediator to help employers and union dockworkers to reach an agreement on a new labor contract.
Crippling cargo backups at U.S. West Coast ports dragged on into a third month amid industry reports on Thursday of prolonged shipment delays for goods ranging from yoga apparel and rice to NBA bobblehead collectibles and frozen french fries.
Most retail holiday import goods have already made it to store shelves, according to Port of Los Angeles spokesman Philip Sanfield, since many shippers sent peak season inventory early to avoid possible labor disruptions at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
