A West Coast port worker shortage forced the closure of the busiest U.S. maritime trade gateway on Friday after months of tense labor negotiations between a dock workers union and their employers.
As part of a coordinated action by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach began a work stoppage on Thursday, according to the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which aims to prevent cargo was necessary for loading and unloading. ), which represents the owners.
“The action taken by the union has effectively shut down the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,” PMA said in a statement.
Port of Long Beach operators decided to temporarily close four of the port’s six seaport terminals after workers failed to show up Friday morning, port spokesman Lee Peterson said. Work was expected to resume.
Port of Los Angeles officials were communicating with the ILWU and PMA, along with federal, state and local officials, “to support a return to normal operations,” said the group, which is managed by a unit of the City of Los Angeles. .
A representative from ILWU Local 13, which represents workers at both the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, declined to comment.
Union workers at the ports are on the job without an employment contract after the previous agreement expires on July 1, 2022, and the labor dispute has caused major retailers to shift cargo to East and Gulf Coast ports to avoid disruptions. forced to do
The ILWU and PMA recently said they have reached a tentative agreement on key negotiating sticking points and are committed to quickly resolving the contract issue as the Biden administration continues to meet with unions to facilitate a deal. is
