LOS ANGELES (CNS) -- The industry group representing shippers announced Friday that operations at some marine terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were ÿeffectively shut down'' following staged concerted and disruptive work actions from the union representing West Coast dockworkers.þþThe shippers industry group, Pacific Maritime Association, in a tweet further claimed International Longshore and Warehouse Union also staged similar work actions that ÿshut down or severely impacted terminal actions at the ports of Oakland, Tacoma, Seattle and Hueneme.''þþIn response to the allegations, ILWU in a statement said ÿany reports that negotiations have broken down are false.''þþThe two parties have been negotiating a new collective bargaining agreement, which would cover more than 22,000 longshore workers at 29 U.S. West Coast ports. Their previous agreement expired on July 1, 2022.þþILWU said PMA represents more than 70 multi-national ocean carriers and maritime companies in contract negotiations with ILWU.þþÿPMA member carriers and terminal operators made historic profits of $510 billion during the pandemic,'' ILWU said in a statement. ÿIn some cases, profits jumped nearly 1,000%.''þþÿAs shipping volumes return to normal in 2023, PMA members have continued to post revenues that far exceed pre-pandemic times by billions of dollars,'' the dockworkers' union added.þþIn early April, PMA alleged a worker shortage shut down the twin ports for two days, but ILWU attributed the dockworker shortage to union members attending its monthly meeting and observing religious holidays.þþILWU stated its workers risked and lost their lives during the pandemic to ensure goods and other necessary supplies reached stores, hospitals and consumers.þþÿDespite this fact, from pre-pandemic levels through 2022, the percentage of ILWU wages and benefits continued to drop compared to PMA rising revenues,'' ILWU said in a statement.þþThe union stated it is ÿcommitted to bargaining a contract that is fair and equitable,'' including wages and benefits that ÿreflect the dedication of the ILWU workforce and its contributions to the shipping industry's success.''þþWillie Adams, president of ILWU, said in a statement the two parties are working hard to reach an agreement.þþÿWe aren't going to settle for an economic package that doesn't recognize the heroic efforts and personal sacrifices of the ILWU workforce that lifted the shipping industry to record profits,'' Adams said in a statement.þþCopyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.
Source: abc7.com
