Shipping Lines, Union Continue Talking Over Weekend
The longshore workers union and the shipping industry continued their talks through the weekend, moving a step closer to ending a logjam that has disrupted commercial trade at West Coast ports.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Assn. negotiated all day Saturday and into Sunday evening in an effort to settle differences over wages and benefits.
Talks were expected to resume early today amid hopes among some participants that a final agreement could be reached this week.
Their hopes were elevated Friday after the two sides reached a breakthrough compromise on the pivotal issue of labor-saving technology.
A source close to the negotiations, which are taking place at a San Francisco hotel under the guidance of federal mediators, described them as constructive.
“Both sides are shooting to put this to bed,” the source said. “We’re working very hard on it.”
The Pacific Maritime Assn., representing shipping lines and terminal operators, shut down all West Coast ports Sept. 29, saying the union was engaging in disruptive work slowdowns to protest stalled contract talks.
The 10,500-member union said delays were related to a crush of holiday season cargo and efforts by their members to observe strict safety procedures after the deaths of five union members this year.
The shutdown stranded billions of dollars worth of holiday cargo before President Bush intervened. On Oct. 8, Bush obtained a federal injunction to reopen the ports, an action that launched an 80-day cooling-off period and cleared the way for the current talks.
