ILWU Local 13, the union’s largest local on the West Coast, has continued to disrupt operations at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation’s largest port complex. While the union is using new tactics, the result is the same: the disruption of terminal operations.
Last week, ILWU Local 13 withheld labor that shut down terminals throughout the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. This week, the Union has unilaterally delayed the standard dispatch process, which is jointly administered by PMA and the ILWU, and refused to allow PMA’s participation in the labor dispatch process. These actions have slowed the start of operations throughout the Southern California port complex. In addition, the Union has forced crucial cargo handling equipment to be taken out of operation at several key terminals.
Together, these illegal work actions have disrupted activities at some of the largest and most active terminals in the United States, which play a critical role in the movement of cargo to and from markets throughout the nation.
This latest work action comes about a month after ILWU Local 13 in Southern California stopped complying with a contract provision providing employers the right to assign staggered shifts during meal periods so cargo can continue to be received and delivered without interruption.
The Union’s coordinated actions are occurring while negotiations for a new coastwise contract continue. Those negotiations began in May of 2022. The contract expired on July 1, 2022.
As has been pointed out for years, any actions that undermine confidence in West Coast ports threaten to further accelerate the diversion of discretionary cargo to Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports. Cargo diversion places quality jobs at risk far beyond the docks, including truck drivers, warehouse workers, and thousands of others whose livelihoods depend on ongoing operations at the port.