West Coast counting the cost

The ILWU and PMA are rumoured to have an agreement on automation, but “rank-and-file” union members withheld labour over the PMA’s position on wage increases.

Under a new agreement with the port, TraPac is no longer required to raise two STS cranes at its terminal in Oakland and will invest in cleaner RTGs instead.

West coast union says parties have reached a “tentative agreement” on “certain key issues”.

With import volumes falling and dwell times coming down, labour issues at LA/Long Beach are more of a “minor inconvenience” than a “severe disruption” says FourKites.

PMA accuses ILWU of taking “a concerted action to withhold labour at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, resulting in widespread worker shortages.”

The ILWU lost its fight for jurisdiction over maintenance and repair work at Terminal 5 in Seattle; labour disruptions in LA/LB began the same day.