THE US west coast International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has announced that 82 per cent of its members voted to ratify the contract agreed on February 20 by the union and management negotiating committees.
The union membership ratification came a day after the employer members of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), the management bargaining unit, also ratified the five-year contract covering 20,000 workers at 29 ports.
"While we are happy to see the contract ratified it's not going to be long before we are going through this process all over again," said National Retail Federation vice president Jonathan Gold, speaking for the customers.
"The past year was fraught with disruptions, slowdowns and partial shutdowns. We can no longer accept last minute negotiations and months and months of talks while slowdowns and stoppages disrupt the global supply chain and international trade.
"A new process is needed for labour and management on both coasts. Stakeholders cannot afford to go through this process every couple of years. We need a new system," said Mr Gold.
Full-time, unskilled and semi-skilled west coast longshoremen earn an average US$147,000 a year more than double that of degree-holding resident physicians in hospitals, court prosecutors and senior FBI agents, who earn between $63,000 and $67,000 a year. California harbour truck driver's pay ranges between $40,000 to $50,000.
WORLD SHIPPING
24 May 2015 - 19:15
ILWU west coast dockers ratify five year labour contract
THE US west coast International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has announced that 82 per cent of its members voted to ratify the contract agreed on February 20 by the union and management negotiating committees.
WORLD SHIPPING
24 May 2015 - 19:15
ILWU west coast dockers ratify five year labour contract
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