For the past ten days, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has kept 22,000 dockworkers on the West Coast on the job without a contract after their previous deal expired July 1. We dont do it every day. Behind this silence, the ILWU is working assiduously with the port operators to ram through a sellout contract. But the expiration of labor contracts with more than 22,000 West Coast port workers this summer could . The stock market is down 15% so far this year, inflation is skyrocketing, and energy prices are so high that the unemployed can't afford the commute if they accept a job. The pandemic presented a particular challenge that saw the ranks of longshore workers and port terminals pulling together as cargo surged and ships congregated outside the breakwater waiting to be unloaded. In a good year, past port strikes have caused painful supply chain delays lasting six months or more. Start your day with Sunrise, a roundup of B.C. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information and details on how to adjust your email settings. The Pacific Maritime Association, representing employers, did not respond to two emails seeking comment. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Articles do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the ILWU Coast Longshore Division. Phillip Sanfield, a spokesman for the Port of Los Angeles, said the Maritime Exchange of Southern California reported there were 23 vessels in the port, including 17 at berth and six at anchor. 2022 Supply Chain Innovator of the Year VIEW THE LATEST ISSUE. Even some crappy insurance would be okay., On safety, he expressed concerns about some of the jobs. So, striking is the only option, it seems like. And no benefits at all? Will There Be a 2022 Dockworker Strike at West Coast Ports? You go up there, its a rusty old beat-up ship, its really a tough job and it makes it hard because the other guys dont want it. Unfortunately, in this case, virtually all the problems are caused by the very positions on which this regime is doubling down. Since May 10, 2022, labor negotiations have been ongoing between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents more than 22,000 West Coast port workers, and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents port terminals and ocean carriers. Anything that has money has a problem. All rights reserved. Container ships that contain products such as flat-screen TVs, sneakers, snow shovels and other types of products would all be rerouted or forced to float idle at sea. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. Stevedores and other members of the Longshoremen's Protective Union Local 1953 have notified the Minister of Labour that it will be conducting a strike vote in their dispute with the St. John's Shipping Association. It's not easy work, but it's well compensated; the typical ILWU member earns about $200,000 per year (since that's an average, there are union members who earn under $100,000 and members who earn over $300,000, depending on specialty, hours, overtime, and seniority). Westshore Terminals Investment Corp has a market cap of $1.86 billion. Jan 17, 2023 7:06 PM by The Biden administration has been watching the process carefully. That the PMA isn't just the "foreign villains" he paints in the air? Longshoremen strike CSA operations at the Port of Mobile after mediation falls apart Published: Nov. 23, 2022, 9:30 a.m. Peering south down the Mobile River on Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019. The U.S. Department of the Interior is taking important steps to support the development and maturation of the offshore renewable energy sector by further defining and simplifying the safety and environmental regulatory responsibilities. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Nov 24, 2021 1:23 PM by Westshore has been in negotiations since October 2021 with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 502 for a new collective agreement. The media blackout on the negotiations between the ILWU and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) has been temporarily lifted, with a joint release saying the talks are continuing and both sides are committed to finding agreement. Longshore and warehouse union on strike, suspending operations at Delta coal terminal Westshore is described as the largest coal export terminal on the west coast of North America, taking coal. When I started here, I was still working my previous job at first, then was doing so many hours here that I left the other job. The ILWU did not respond to a request for comment. The Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union will begin labor. The Justice Department on Tuesday asked an appeals court panel to reverse an April 2021 ruling that declared unlawful a government order requiring masks on airplanes, buses, trains, ridesharing services and at airports and other transportation hubs. Which are more precarious, post-Flexport cuts: 'digital' or 'traditional' forwarders? Last weekend, Spain's search and rescue agency attempted to save the crew of a French sailing yacht that had suffered a bizarre and shocking casualty off Gran Canaria. Port operations continue without disruption and we expect this to remain so as the parties continue to work towards an agreement, Noel Hacegaba, deputy executive director of the Long Beach port, said in a written statement. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Westshore Terminals Investment Corp has a market cap of $1.86 billion. Neither party is preparing for a strike or a lockout, contrary to speculation in news reports. In 1971, longshore workers voted to strike to win back some of the concessions we made in the 1966 contract. Westshore Terminals handles more than 33 million tonnes of coal annually from its docks at Roberts Banks in Delta, even though it has been transitioning to other commodities such as potash. Jan 17, 2023 6:49 PM by If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. By Kurtis Lee June 30, 2022 LOS ANGELES David Alvarado barreled south along the highway, staring through the windshield of his semi truck toward the towering cranes along the coastline. A welcome email is on its way. My grandpa was around in the 40s and he was all about strikes., Another worker, whom we will refer to as Mike, also joined the discussion. The PMA also alluded to the fear in the industry that contract negotiations could lead to disruptions for carriers at ports that are already overwhelmed by the surge in imports. All quotes delayed a minimum of 15 minutes. The ILWA declined the PWAs recent proposal for the one-year extension citing the important role of collective bargaining to maintain the attractiveness of the profession. In addition to the 22,000 ILWU members who are divided into A and B classifications based on seniority, a similar number of low-paid casual workers make up the bottom third tier of the workforce on the docks. The first attempt was made on July 3, but it is Thursday, July 5, 1934 that is still commemorated by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) membership as "Bloody Thursday." Two men, Howard Sperry and Nick Bordoise, were killed and several others wounded during a confrontation on Rincon Hill. The PMA told Bloomberg that it has already submitted its first proposal to the ILWU. After talks broke down on Friday afternoon, the unions website invited members and their friends and family to join the picket line, starting early Saturday morning. West Coast Port Strike Would be Devastating. A revealing episode took place Friday afternoon, when several ILWU officials confronted the World Socialist Web Site reporting team. Both Tirschwell and Larian point out that it wouldn't take a strike or a management lockout to slow or stop the flow of cargo. I dont find it unreasonable so long as whatever is agreed upon gets backdated., Jamie was a union member all her life, until now, since a casual cannot be an ILWU member. However, they moved to reassure shippers fearing supply chain disruption after the contract expires. by Chris Jennewein May 10, 2022 Container shipping operations at Pier 300 at the Port of Los Angeles. On Friday, Westshore said there were no further negotiations scheduled between the company and the union. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union issued only a written statement from Willie Adams, ILWU international president. The two western provinces make up 90 per cent of Canadas production of coal. LOS ANGELES, June 14 (Reuters) - The union and employers negotiating the contract for more than 22,000 port laborers on the U.S. West Coast on Tuesday said they are committed to reaching a deal and are not planning any work stoppages or lockouts that would worsen supply chain logjams. The Jim Pattison Group owns more than 40% of WTIC shares. Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion and encourage all readers to share their views on our articles. The industry leader for online information for tax, accounting and finance professionals. Its a rigged system. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Never forget: . It takes 10 to 15 years as a casual to be hired in as a full-time worker, Jamie (whose name has been changed to protect her identity) told the World Socialist Web Site while waiting at the Los Angeles casuals hiring hall Friday, My friends husband got in after 10 years of being down here. Bloomberg reports that the PMA, whose board is largely made up of the ocean carriers, wrote to the ILA proposing a one-year extension citing the current difficulties in the supply chain and the importance of maintaining stable operations at this time. Right now, Im getting two to possibly one day a week. He either doesn't understand, or doesn't care, that the steamship lines' costs have skyrocketed because of government port closures due to the COVID lockdowns, completely out of their control. Longshore workers, employers reach tentative deal on healthcare benefits Recommended Reading ILWU, PMA say they are not preparing for a longshore strike or lockout By Edwin Lopez June 14, 2022 Stephen Lyons will be the next US port envoy By Colin Campbell May 31, 2022 post share tweet print email Filed Under: Freight, Logistics, Risk/Resilience Looming Longshoreman Strike Threatens Energy, Semi-Conductor Chips Monday, February 14, 2022, By Lily Datz Share COVID 19 labor strike semi-conductor supply chain management Pat Penfield At about 2000 hours on Sunday, rescue coordinators with Spain's Salvamento Maritimo received a distress call from a crewmember aboard the sailing yacht Poppy. We take the slack that other [A and B Class] workers dont want. Jamie said: Theres no sense of the contract, theyre very quiet about it. A new supply chain risk: 22,000 dockworkers who may soon strike. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion delivered straight to your inbox at 7 a.m., Monday to Friday. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Last week, groups sent a letter to the White House urging the administration to get involved to avoid disruption. A strike by longshoremen crippled the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on Wednesday, spreading from one to 10 terminals in the two ports. This comes at a time when the ports, terminal operators, carriers, and even the new White House Supply Chain Taskforce have all been emphasizing the importance of investment and technology to provide long-term solutions to the backups in the supply chain. . Nothing. Skill and cargo penalty differentials increase pay from there. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Even "casual workers" those guaranteed no shifts begin at more than $32 an hour. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. The Maritime Executive, Published The union representing more than 14,000 longshoremen originally planned to begin a strike on Sunday, which would close cargo ports on the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico. Training programs The price hikes of the past two years cannot fairly be blamed on the shipping lines but that doesn't stop a man who knows nothing about the economy in general, or about the transportation industry in particular. Some experts have speculated that the ILWA might open the new talks seeking rollbacks on some of its prior automation concessions. While casuals, in spite of their economic insecurity, said they were prepared to support a strike and unite with their full-time brethren, the ILWU bureaucracy treats them with contempt. For just $3.50 per week, you can get unlimited, ad-lite access to The Vancouver Sun, The Province, National Post and 13 other Canadian news sites. That all depends on whether a new contract can be finalized between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). At 8 a.m. on May 9, 1934, more than 12,000 union . LA/Long Beach q Originally, it would've expired in 2019, but the majority of ballots cast by ILWU members favored the extension in exchange for a wage and pension increase. The next issue of Sunrise presented by Vancouver Sun will soon be in your inbox. Both the ports of L.A. and Long Beach, the two busiest, expressed confidence that a contract agreement will be reached without disruption to port operations. Im here every day hoping to get a job., The union is keeping absolute silence about the new contract, which includes provisions affecting casuals, although they have no voting rights. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. And of all the indelicate, inopportune times and places to choose for this speech, he headed to the busiest, most important seaport in the Americas, twenty days before the deadline crashes down on the most delicate labor negotiation of the year. Dockworkers on the Pacific coast of the United States, represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, are gearing up for a fierce debate as their contract nears expiry, according to various reports.With more than 22,000 workers tending to many of the busiest ports in the world, is it possible that a disruption in service could affect American agriculture? The parties were again called before. He had. . This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. For decades, the ILWU has made one concession after another on automation, beginning in earnest in 1960 through the Mechanization and Modernization agreement and continued in recent years in 2002, 2008 and 2014-15. DNV admits up to 1,000 vessels affected by ransomware attack, FedEx, UPS and Amazon look to shore-up margins in a slower market, New 'five-year plan' to revive China as a modern logistics giant, Kuehne + Nagel the next multi-billion windfall, Asia-Med box trades the only bright spot in the general downturn, Incheon and sea-air services the target for shipping line airlines, Super-bonuses for TS Lines staff, but more trying times are ahead, MSC targets Mrsk market share as another towage deal is rumoured, Too few 'supply chain masters' ready for 'tectonic shifts' in strategy. The Seattle dispute, meanwhile, involves a terminal run by a company called SSA Marine and jurisdiction of cold-ironing work the process by which ships hook up to shoreside electrical power. 2023 FOX Television Stations, High Stakes: Sports Betting in California, Critics blast new Alameda DA's decision to toss special circumstances in slayings, Palo Alto police investigating bomb threat written in middle school bathroom, Biden 'surprised' government records were found at former office, California reservoirs filling quickly from storms, Pentagon: COVID-19 vaccine no longer mandated for troops. The ILWU, founded 85 years ago and led for some 40 years by the notorious communist labor organizer Harry Bridges, is the sole negotiator for those 15,000 closed-shop employees. They're "foreigners," after all the easiest of targets for Democrat politicians for as long as our country has been around. Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement updated 7/1/2022). Smith, Bass said it was time to agree on a new local contract. Ocean carriers find a way to deploy their expanding fleets, Hapag-CMA deal sees re-emergence of cross-alliance slot chartering, Carriers take short-term rate hit and eye post-CNY demand surge. Within hours, the National Guard was . 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. The PMA said the "apparent attempt to try to exact leverage in local negotiations is counterproductive.". All rights reserved (About Us). But longshoremen said the contract they want is for the entire West Coast, where a strike would indefinitely close all ports in the region. In a move that is being supported by the clean power industry, the Department clarified the roles of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). The current contract expires on July 1. But dont start me out as a day laborer, that seems extreme. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. 51.255.201.10 Thats their leverage., In case of a strike, she said, Were not obligated to strike since were not union, but I would not cross the picket line. Another worker interjected, Im down, totally down. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. The current contract expires on July 1, 2022, and is itself the result of a prior three-year extension. The dockworkers union's past includes some of the most influential strikes in US history. Westshores vice-president and general manager, Glenn Dudar, did not reply to Postmedia. The longshore and warehouse union at Westshore Terminals is on strike, suspending operations at one of Canada's largest and busiest ports for moving coal. Instead of the backbreaking work of hand-loading crates, drums, and boxes on and off the deck and hold of a ship, the vast majority of ILWU members are now involved in directing machinery such as gantry cranes to swing 20' and 40' shipping containers from ship to shore and back again. Thanks to West Coast congestion and a boom in East Coast container traffic, the Georgia Ports Authority handled a record-setting 5.9 million TEU worth of containerized cargo in 2022 - five percent more than it handled the year before. The Maritime Executive. Jan 17, 2023 9:31 PM by Do n't see it, please check your junk folder, attorney-editor expertise, and is itself result. Doing when this page came up and the union through a sellout contract caused by the administration... The company and the union week, groups sent a letter to the is! Been around painful supply chain risk: 22,000 dockworkers who May soon strike vice-president and general manager Glenn! 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