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West Coast longshore labor talks facing deadline today
Date: July 1, 2008
Updated July 1, 2008 2:21:28 PM
Bill Mongelluzzo / The JOURNAL of COMMERCE
ONLINE
LONG BEACH, Calif. -- Negotiators for the International Longshore
and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association returned
to the bargaining table at 10 a.m. Tuesday with only seven hours
remaining before the current West Coast waterfront contract expires.
While it appears unlikely that labor and management will sign
a new contract, it is unclear whether negotiators would continue
bargaining past the deadline.
"The PMA is prepared to talk beyond 5 p.m. today," said
Steve Getzug, spokesman for the employers' group.
ILWU spokesman Craig Merrilees did not directly answer the question
of extending the contract, but he said the important fact to note
is that both sides have agreed to negotiate all day on Tuesday.
"I expect they will keep talking," Merrilees said.
The intensity and duration of negotiations picked up last week
and talks continued until 10 p.m. Monday.
If both parties agree to extend the existing contract, the "no
strike" clause remains in effect and cargo operations at
West Coast ports should continue without interruption.
It is also possible that work stoppages or slowdowns could be
avoided if both sides agree to keep negotiating even without a
contract extension, but that scenario does not provide the same
comfort level.
Getzug said employers remain committed to negotiating a contract
that is fair for both parties while keeping the ports operating
smoothly.
The ILWU and PMA issued a joint statement two weeks ago indicting
that a tentative agreement was reached on health care benefits,
but no further announcements have been made since then.
A number of issues remain to be resolved. While no issue has emerged
as a deal-breaker, employers continue to push for productivity
measures that will help land-constrained West Coast ports handle
increasing cargo volumes in the years ahead.
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