The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) has accused a dockers union of unlawfully disrupting operations at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
The PMA, which represents 70 ocean carriers and terminal operators at 29 west coast ports in the US, made the accusations against International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 13 a week after dockworkers at both ports did not show up for work on 6 and 7 April.
The ILWU said its workers did not come to work on those days to attend a general meeting on 6 April and observe the Good Friday holiday on 7 April, but the PMA is not buying it and says the union continues to disrupt operations.
“ILWU Local 13, the union’s largest local on the West Coast, has continued to disrupt operations at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation’s largest port complex,” the PMA said in a statement issued on Thursday.
“While the union is using new tactics, the result is the same: the disruption of terminal operations.”
Calls to the union local were not immediately returned.
The PMA said the union intentionally delayed the standard dispatch process, which is jointly run by the PMA and the ILWU, this week and would not let the PMA participate in the labor dispatch process.
“These actions have slowed the start of operations throughout the Southern California port complex,” the PMA said.
“In addition, the union has forced crucial cargo-handling equipment to be taken out of operation at several key terminals.”
The PMA said “these illegal work actions” have disrupted work at the two largest terminals in the US, both of which play a critical role in moving cargo to and from markets nationwide.
The association also said that, about a month ago, the union stopped complying with a contract provision that allows employers to assign staggered shifts during meal periods to enable continuous flow of cargo.
“The union’s coordinated actions are occurring while negotiations for a new coastwise contract continue,” the PMA said.
Both sides began negotiating the new labour contract in May 2022 to replace one that expired in July of that year.
“As has been pointed out for years, any actions that undermine confidence in West Coast ports threaten to further accelerate the diversion of discretionary cargo to Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports,” the PMA said.
“Cargo diversion places quality jobs at risk far beyond the docks, including truck drivers, warehouse workers and thousands of others whose livelihoods depend on ongoing operations at the port.”
