US WEST coast waterfront employers of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) say port operations are "approaching complete gridlock" because of docker union slowdowns, reports American Shipper.
But the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) blame poor management decisions of the terminal operators members of the PMA.
Contradictory management and union statements have broken the silence of the relatively leak-proof talks before the arrival of the federal mediator, who will guide negotitions between the PMA and the ILWU from now on.
Said management: "The ILWU has crippled productive terminals in the Pacific Northwest and Oakland, and exacerbated a difficult congestion issue at Los Angeles and Long Beach by intentionally withholding dozens of essential skilled workers each shift for the past 10 weeks."
But the ILWU said last week the shortage of yard crane operators "is a consequence of PMA's refusal to adequately train them".Said the union: "To blame the union is blatantly inaccurate and is being done only to divert responsibility from wrong choices and a vacuum of planning by the PMA and its terminal operators."
WORLD SHIPPING
13 January 2015 - 20:29
With federal mediator on site, PMA and ILWU openly trade barbs
US WEST coast waterfront employers of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) say port operations are "approaching complete gridlock" because of docker union slowdowns, reports American Shipper.
WORLD SHIPPING
13 January 2015 - 20:29
With federal mediator on site, PMA and ILWU openly trade barbs
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