LA/Long Beach Contract Talks Remain Stalled, Port Operations Limited

Picketing continued Dec. 3 at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach as a result of a long-running contract dispute between port employers and members of Office Clerical Unit Local 63 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (see ITT's Online Archives 12113025).

Seven of the eight container terminals remained closed at Port of L.A. Monday morning, a spokesman told us, as well as three of six terminals at Port of Long Beach. The L.A. spokesman said about 11 container vessels were waiting offshore to get into both ports, and about nine vessels have diverted to other ports. Negotiations were scheduled to resume later Monday morning.

The Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Employers Association said its negotiating teams offered the OCU new proposals with additional concessions regarding what it called "featherbedding" demands that employers call in temporary workers and hire new employees even if there is no work for those individuals to perform (here). The OCU immediately rejected the proposals as talks were suspended Dec. 2 and the strike was expected to move into its second week. Port officials said an unknown number of ships were being delayed or diverted to other ports, and importers asked President Obama and others to intervene. The employers also said they continue to offer wage and pension increases, an absolute job guarantee against layoffs, and a promise to maintain all other OCU benefits that the employers have previously offered -- all of which would bring the average annual OCU wage-and-benefits package to more than $190,000 over the next three and one-half years. The strike got support from the International Longshoremen's Association, which said it "can identify with ILWU Clerical Workers" who it said want "to stop international corporations from outsourcing dozens of good-paying jobs that support working families in the Los Angeles community." ILA President Harold Daggett assured the ILWU it had the full support of the ILA and its members (here). Edward Wytkind, president of the Transportation Trades Department, AFL-CIO (TTD) also issued a statement (here) saying the AFL-CIO "stands in full support" of the OCU.

The OCU itself had little to say about the negotiations, other than a website posting saying "we are on strike -- members please go down to any one of the strike locations and lend a hand" and "negotiations continue." Meanwhile, the National Industrial Transportation League sent a letter to President Obama saying it's "respectfully requesting your help in facilitating the start of new labor negotiations" between the employers and the local, saying the "impasse in these labor talks has resulted in a near-shutdown of the nation's largest port complex, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach."

NITL President Bruce Carlton said "our members rely on the two ports to move goods to their customers in overseas markets as well as imported goods that are necessary to operate plants, facilities, and products to consumers here in the U.S. A prolonged shutdown of these two ports will be harmful to the U.S. economy and would dismantle the nation's recovery efforts." He said the NITL would "welcome" the start of mediation in the dispute.

The American Apparel & Footwear Association also wrote to the President, saying "we would like to express our grave concern for the economic well-being of our commerce, consumers, and country, all of which will be adversely affected by recent developments in our West Coast ports. We urge you as President of the United States to take immediate and necessary action to restore full operations at the ports." Kevin Burke, AAFA president, said 98 percent of apparel and 99 percent of footwear sold in the U.S. is produced globally, and over 45% of these products come through these ports. "We urge you to step in now and sustainably bring the negotiating parties back together in order to end this economically detrimental situation."

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued a statement saying he wants round-the-clock bargaining to end the strike, with the help of a mediator. "This cannot continue," Villaraigosa said in a letter to John Fageaux president of the clerical unit, and Stephen Berry, chief negotiator for the employers group. He said the strike is "costing our local economy billions of dollars."

The next Local 63 general membership meeting is scheduled for Dec. 11 at Cabrillo Marina Community Building, Berth 28th Whalers Walk, San Pedro, Calif. -- Mike Feazel