Ports May Slow
Members of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) threatened the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) with worker lockouts after union slowdowns were reported in Long Beach and Oakland. The ILWU denies orchestrating the work slowdowns but said that the 19 union workers who failed to return to work after lunch at an Oakland terminal were protesting scheduling changes. Similar activities were reported at a terminal in Long Beach. The conflict between the PMA and the ILWU is escalating during the peak holiday shipping season, when shipping lines are running at full capacity. Negotiations continue between the two entities with technology versus job loss remaining the chief issue.
