THE US east coast dockers' union, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), said statements made by the Savannah local union president were wrong in wanting to poach cargo from shippers fed up with the US west coast.
"The ILA will not handle diverted cargo that might be shipped to east coast ports as the result of unsuccessful negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association," said ILA president Harold Daggett.
This was said in response to statements made at the Long Beach TPM conference by Savannah local ILA president Thomas Stokes, who told delegates: "We want your business."
Mr Stokes said Savannah's longshoremen are proud of their productivity and are well informed on industry developments and educate their members on the important role they play in the supply chain.
Poor west coast productivity has persuaded importers to look elsewhere. January box volume shows double-digit declines on the west coast ports and double-digit increases on east coast ports.
But ILA south Atlantic president Clyde Fitzgerald, Gulf union president and Atlantic president Dennis Daggett, said they will not capitalise on shipper anger at west coast dockers.
"Solidarity with the ILWU and with dockers around the world is how the ILA defines itself," Dennis Daggett said.
The Port of Savannah, which has developed into a balanced import and export throughput, began to notice increasing volumes from Asia after the 2002 west coast lockout.
PORTS
10 March 2015 - 20:21
ILA boss: Savannah union prez wrong in wanting to poach ILWU cargo
THE US east coast dockers' union, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), said statements made by the Savannah local union president were wrong in wanting to poach cargo from shippers fed up with the US west coast.
PORTS
10 March 2015 - 20:21
ILA boss: Savannah union prez wrong in wanting to poach ILWU cargo
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