The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) is slowing down operations at the Seattle and Takoma ports in direct violation of a temporary agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association, said the PMA in a Nov. 3 statement (here). The two sides allowed their labor contract to expire on July 1 and have since been negotiating the terms of a new agreement. U.S. importers feared the lapse would disrupt trade, but the ports have largely operated a normal volume over the past several months. However, productivity at some terminals in the ports has decreased 40-60 percent since ILWU initiated the slowdown on Oct. 31, said PMA. The ILWU, in turn, called the PMA statement dishonest, adding that it will only extend conflict over the contract (here). Port operations have slowed recently due to chassis unavailability, as well as truck driver and rail car shortages. The American Apparel and Footwear Association recently lambasted slowdowns at two California ports (see 1411040008).

The Port of Long Beach will allow for three additional working days of "free time for the delivery of international import containers," the port said Oct. 23. The extension is a result of "peak congestion at container terminals" at the port, it said. "This temporary provision will be in effect and applicable for containers discharged from vessels" on Oct. 18 through Oct. 31, it said. "During this period, all of the stakeholders in the ocean transportation industry need to continue do what we can to relieve congestion and bring the terminal service levels back to normal." The port also "strongly urges importers to pick up their containers as quickly as possible and to return chassis in an expedited manner," it said.

In the Oct 21-22 editions of the Official Journal ​of the European Union, the following trade-related notices were posted:

The Port of Long Beach is looking to tackle congestion problems through regular meetings and brainstorming with stakeholders, the port said in a Oct. 7 statement. The Port of Long Beach is also reaching out to the Federal Maritime Commission for help with the congestion, the statement said, while not specifying what type of assistance that may involve. "Nobody benefits from congestion, but everybody wins when cargo crosses our gateway as efficiently and as fast as possible," said Port Chief Operating Officer Noel Hacegaba. "That’s why I am positive we will find productive and efficient ways to move cargo and relieve congestion."

Most terminals of the Port of Los Angeles were set to resume operations on Sept. 24 following a fire, the port said. "Only the Pasha terminal at Berth 177, the location of the fire, will remain closed," it said. The fire started during the night of Sept. 22 and forced the closure of all container terminals on Sept. 23 due to air quality concerns.

West Coast port labor negotiations are again on hiatus July 21-22 as the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) holds a previously scheduled meeting in San Francisco, said the ILWU and Pacific Maritime Association in a joint statement on July 18. After that, negotiations will continue until July 28 -- Aug. 1, when the parties will take another break so the ILWU can attend to unrelated contract negotiations in the Northwest, they said. The West Coast labor contract expired on July 1, but the ILWU and PMA have said they will keep ports running at full capacity during negotiations (see 14070222).

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association are taking a 72-hour break from negotiations on a new labor contract for West Coast ports, they said in a joint release issued July 7. The hiatus will allow the ILWU to divert its attention to an unrelated negotiation in the Pacific Northwest, said the statement. During the break, from 8 a.m. on July 8 through 8 a.m. on Friday, July 11, the ILWU and the PMA are extending the previous six-year contract, which expired July 1, they said.

Dockworkers at 29 West Coast ports will continue to move cargo at normal operating capacity, despite the July 1 expiration of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) contract with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), said the two organizations in a joint statement. “Both sides understand the strategic importance of the ports to the local, regional and US economies, and are mindful of the need to finalize a new coast-wide contract as soon as possible to ensure continuing confidence in the West Coast ports and avoid any disruption to the jobs and commerce they support,” said the July 1 statement. ILWU and port officials have recently dismissed speculation that the contract dispute would fuel port shutdowns and cargo diversions (see 14070128).

Truck drivers from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are going on a 48-hour strike starting April 28 to protest low wages and their status as independent contractors. According to a report from the Orange County Register (here), the strike is currently limited to four drayage companies at the ports: Green Fleet Systems, American Logistics International, Pacific 9 Transportation, and Total Transportation Services. A spokesman for the Port of L.A. told us that, as of 8:30 a.m. PDT, port operations at L.A. were unaffected. A Port of Long Beach spokesman told us picketers are present at one container terminal as of 8:45 a.m. PDT -- the Long Beach Container Terminal -- but it’s still early in the day, and the impact on port operations is still being evaluated.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association should begin contract negotiations now in order to keep cargo flowing through West Coast ports, said National Retail Federation (NRF) President Matthew Shay in an April 14 letter to the two parties. The ILWU contract at the 29 containerized ports in California, Oregon and Washington that make up the Pacific Maritime Association expires on June 30.