Despite multiple attempts from the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to convince the International Longshore Warehouse Union (ILWU) to resume “big table” negotiations, the ILWU has postponed talks until no sooner than December 2, 2014.  During this time, the union will be participating in subcommittee negotiations dealing mostly with local issues.  Neither the PMA nor the […]

Congestion at the terminals of Seattle, Tacoma, Los Angeles, and Long Beach continues to worsen as both the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) appear to be no closer to resolving their ongoing labor dispute.  The PMA issued a new statement yesterday alleging that the ILWU is withholding skilled labor, […]

Both the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) issued conflicting statements yesterday regarding an alleged slow down by dock workers in the ports of Seattle and Tacoma.   The PMA alluded that the union was engaging in slowdown tactics at the terminals in order to put pressure on the ongoing negotiations […]

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) released a joint statement last night announcing that an agreement has been reached on the health care portion of the negotiations for their new master contract.  These negotiations have been ongoing since May and it was expected that discussions involving health benefits […]

On May 12th, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) began negotiating a new contract covering West Coast dockworkers as the current contract is due to expire on June 30th at midnight.  Details of the labor stoppage negotiations can be found in Shapiro’s Guide to ILWU Labor Negotiations, which provides […]

With volumes running higher than average during comparable time-periods, the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) will resume talks tomorrow (Wednesday, July 22, 2014) after taking a brief hiatus to allow the ILWU to participate in a previously scheduled Longshore Division Caucus in San Francisco.  Although no agreement has […]

International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) workers walked off terminals earlier today at both the Port of Long Beach and the Port of Los Angeles in a show of support for the Teamsters union picketing action.  The ILWU had previously stated they would not cross picket lines should the Teamster Union choose to take action.  […]

After a tentative sigh of relief from West Coast routed cargo owners, tensions are once again running high as the Teamsters union pickets in L.A./Long Beach.  The Teamsters drivers claim that they were incorrectly classified as independent contractors instead of true employees by trucking companies.  As contractors, the drivers do not receive the same overtime, […]

The sun is out, the air is warm, and whether you know it or not, you’re going to a baseball game. Historically, labor disputes have been almost as popular as America’s favorite pastime.  This particular game is between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA).  They are only weeks […]

With the current International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) contract due to expire on June 30th, the ILWU and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) were set to begin negotiations this week on a contract covering West Coast dockworkers. The main topics expected to be covered during contract negotiations are stronger safety provisions, wages, benefits, technology, and […]

Baltimore – Trapped Shipping Vessel is Freed! The container ship that was trapped under the fallen Francis Scott Key Bridge was successfully freed yesterday. Salvage teams employed multiple explosive charges to disentangle the bridge debris from the trapped vessel. The alternative channel has been established and has since moved 365 commercial vessels to and from […]

Labor Strikes Throwing Curveballs Why aren’t baseball players huge fans of labor unions? Because they don’t like to be called out on strikes! Now that we’ve “Cracker Jacked” that joke, let us take you out to the ballgame… If you haven’t checked the scoreboard lately, then you’ll be surprised to learn that the number of […]