PMA accuses the ILWU union of detaining workers over a strike
According to the latest news, the Pacific Maritime Association(PMA), which represents 70 ocean carriers and terminal operators in 29 West Coast ports, released a statement yesterday accusing the ILWU Local 13 union of using a new strategy to slow down the operations kicked off at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and forced the shutdown of loading and unloading equipment at several key terminals. The PMA did not say the extent of the disruption or which terminals were affected, but said the ILWU union carried out illegal work actions that disrupted operations at the busiest port complex in the United States, the latest sign of escalating tensions in labor talks on the West Coast.
The background to the PMA’s statement is that members of Local 13 did not show up for their assigned shifts on the afternoon of April 6 and the morning of April 7 last Thursday night and Friday. Terminals at two ports were forced to suspend operations for about 24 hours due to a shortage of workers in what was thought to be a massive strike action. ILWU Local 13 said last week’s labor shortage was due to a monthly union meeting on Thursday nights that this month involves the swearing-in of newly elected local presidents. They noted that Friday was a religious holiday and some workers wanted to be reunited with their families.
The PMA blamed the union for intentionally withholding workers, accusing the union of refusing to cooperate in the labor dispatch and unilaterally delaying the standard dispatch process jointly administered by the PMA and ILWU. “Combined, these illegal work practices disrupted activity at some of the largest and most active terminals in the United States, which play a key role in moving cargo into and out of markets across the nation,” PMA said.
The PMA also reiterated its position that about a month ago Local ceased compliance with the terms of the contract that allowed for staggered shifts during meal breaks, with the goal of allowing goods to continue to be received and delivered without interruption during the break. Separately, PMA warned that any disruption to West Coast port operations could further accelerate cargo diversion to East Coast and Gulf Coast ports.
Negotiations between the two parties have been going on since May 2022, two months before the expiration of the previous contract, but they have been unable to reach an agreement for a long time. Thankfully, U.S. imports showed signs of recovery in March, rebounding from February, but the outlook remains highly uncertain. New data showed wholesale inventories remained high, while shipments from China were falling. U.S. imports totaled 1,853,705 20-foot-equivalent units in March, down 27.5% year-over-year but up 6.9% from February and 4.2% from pre-Covid March 2019, according to Descartes data released Tuesday.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach were big winners this month, with imports up 30% and 25%, respectively, compared with February. Southern California ports were hit especially hard by Lunar New Year disruptions in February. Imports handled by Los Angeles terminals last month totaled 319,962 teu, about 35% below the record set last year, while exports fell 12% to 98,276 teu. Empty containers relocated back to Asia also fell sharply by 42% to 204,996 teu. Descartes data showed month-over-month declines on the East Coast, with Savannah down 6%, New York and New Jersey down 5%, and Charleston down 3%.
