Shippers to Temporarily Suspend Vessel Loading and Unloading at 29 West Coast Ports

The Pacific Maritime Association, representing employers at 29 West Coast ports, will droop vessel loading and unloading in any respect ports beginning Thursday, and once more on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, amid stalled labor contract negotiations with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

The 4 day suspension coincides with “premium-pay” weekend and vacation vessel operations, which command a pay price premium of at the least 50% in comparison with the essential longshore wage price, in response to PMA.

The 4 dates affected by the suspension of vessel operations are Thursday, 2/12 (Lincoln’s Birthday); Saturday, 2/14; Sunday, 2/15; and Monday, 2/16 (Washington’s Birthday).

Yard, rail and gate operations are anticipated to proceed at terminal operators’ discretion.

The Pacific Maritime Association says that its members have concluded that it is not sensible to pay such excessive charges for full shifts of ILWU staff when productiveness is severely diminished.

“Last week, PMA made a comprehensive contract offer designed to bring these talks to conclusion,” stated PMA spokesman Wade Gates. “The ILWU responded with demands they knew we could not meet, and continued slowdowns that will soon bring West Coast ports to gridlock. What they’re doing amounts to a strike with pay, and we will reduce the extent to which we pay premium rates for such a strike.”

The earlier six-year labor pact between the PMA and ILWU, representing some 20,000 dockworkers, expired on July 1. A federal mediator joined the negotiations in early January, nevertheless the 2 sides have clearly failed to achieve a deal.