The Pacific Maritime Association, which has been negotiating with the Intl. Longshore & Warehouse Union on a new labor deal for 13,600 West Coast port workers for more than six months, today accused the ILWU of orchestrating work slowdowns in Seattle and Tacoma, WA, and thus, reneging on an agreement to continue negotiating in good faith.
The two Northwest ports handle an estimated 16% of containerized cargo on the West Coast. The PMA said the slowdowns, which began on Oct. 31 and expanded over the weekend, resulted in a 40-60% reduction in terminal productivity. Terminals that typically move 25-35 containers per hour have been moving only 10-18, according to PMA data. Additionally the group alleges the ILWU is not filling orders for skilled workers at the ports who are critical to terminal operating.
