FILE PHOTO: An aerial photo looking north shows shipping containers at the Port of Seattle and the Elliott Bay waterfront in Seattle, Washington, U.S. March 21, 2019. REUTERS/Lindsey Wasson/File Photo
SEATTLE: The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents terminal operators, says that coordinated and disruptive work actions led by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have shut down cargo operations at the Port of Seattle.
“On the first shift today, the ILWU refused to dispatch any longshore workers to container terminals, the PMA said, resulting in the shutdown of the port.
The ILWU, however, said that the West Coast ports are open and accused the PMA of “leveraging one-sided information to influence the process.”
“Despite what you are hearing from PMA, West Coast ports are open as we continue to work under our expired collective bargaining agreement,” said ILWU International president Willie Adams.
Unions are seeking a pay increase that reflects workers’ contribution to the ocean shipping industry’s record profits from the pandemic cargo boom. They also want added compensation for the hours worked since their contract expired.
West Coast ports stretching from California to Washington state are critical to the US supply chains and the economy. More than 22,000 dockworkers at those trade gateways have been working without a contract since July.The largest US business group last Friday urged President Joe Biden to intervene immediately and appoint an independent mediator to address a protracted West Coast ports labour dispute. — Reuters
