Shippers Suspend Weekend Cargo Ops at West Coast Ports

LOS ANGELES, Feb 6 (Reuters) – Cargo freighter loading and unloading operations will probably be suspended at U.S. West Coast Ports this weekend attributable to persevering with continual slowdowns that shippers and terminal operators have blamed on the dockworkers’ union, the businesses’ consultant mentioned on Friday.

However, the Pacific Maritime Association mentioned terminal yard, rail and gate operations on the ports, which deal with practically half of U.S. maritime commerce and greater than 70 p.c of imports from Asia, would go on on the discretion of terminal operators by means of the weekend, the group mentioned.

“In light of ongoing union slowdowns up and down the coast which have brought the ports almost to a standstill, PMA member companies finally have concluded that they will no longer continue to pay workers premium pay for diminished productivity,” the affiliation mentioned in a short assertion.

It mentioned vessel loading and unloading operations had been scheduled to renew on Monday, Feb. 9, whereas yard operations – shifting unloaded cargo containers for truck and rail supply to prospects – would proceed at terminal operators discretion.

Announcement of the weekend suspension got here two days after the chief labor negotiator for the businesses on the 29 West Coast ports warned that waterfronts which have been affected by extreme cargo congestion in current months had been nearing the purpose of full gridlock.

The firms have repeatedly accused the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents 20,000 dockworkers, of deliberating orchestrating work slowdowns on the ports to realize leverage in contract negotiations which have dragged on for 9 months

The union denies this and faulted the carriers themselves for the congestion, citing quite a few modifications in transport practices as contributing elements.

The union additionally has downplayed the magnitude of the congestion, suggesting that administration was exaggerating a disaster as a late-hour negotiation ploy. (Reporting by Steve Gorman; Editing by Sandra Maler)