Ports of LA, Long Beach Disrupted by Strike
Striking port workers picketed on Nov. 28 and 29 at the Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach in a protest over ongoing contract negotiations.
The workers are clerical workers and members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63. Many other dockworkers refused to cross the picket lines, slowing activity at the two ports.At issue is job security, with the union concerned that employers are outsourcing jobs to other countries. The Harbor Employers Association, a nonprofit group representing shipping agencies and terminal operators in Southern California, said the claim is “simply not true.”
“Not one OCU [Office Clerical Unit] job has been sent overseas or anywhere else. On the contrary, the employers have offered complete protection against outsourcing by providing,” the association said in a statement.The HEA further warned: If the [OCU] continues its strike, the negative effects on jobs and the economy will be felt nationwide.
The strike raises fears of 2002, when a 10-day lockout at California ports took a toll on the Holiday shopping season and led to millions of dollars in chargeback fees from retailers who did not receive ordered goods on time.Although December is the tail end of the Holiday season for importers, an extended work stoppage could mean last-minute goods will not arrive and retailers will be forced to scramble to fill empty shelves.
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), an industry association based in Arlington, Va., dubbed the situation a “recipe for disaster.”“If the strike isn’t resolved quickly, the effects on retailers, their customers and the economy will be enormous,” said RILA President Sandy Kennedy. “We urge the parties to quickly resolve the dispute and get back to work in order to avoid the substantial economic damage a prolonged work stoppage would surely cause.”—Alison A. Nieder
