Longshoremen’s Walkout Affects 2 Southern Ports
Union workers representing about 2,700 striking longshoreman picketed docks Friday in New Orleans and Mobile, Ala.
After contract talks with shippers broke down over the issues of overtime pay and size of work crews, three Mobile locals with about 600 members on Friday joined the four New Orleans locals of the International Longshoremen’s Assn. who walked out Thursday night.
Two more New Orleans locals were refusing to cross picket lines in the dispute with the New Orleans Steamship Assn., union officials said. New Orleans Harbor Police estimated that about 1,000 pickets walked lines Friday at wharves along the Mississippi River.
Longshoremen complained that the association’s contract proposal would effectively eliminate overtime pay. Shippers said the provision is needed to keep the Port of New Orleans competitive.
No talks were scheduled this weekend.
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