USANews版 - LA-Long Beach port strike enters 4th day |
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发帖数: 334 | 1 LOS ANGELES (AP) -- A strike at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
entered its fourth day on Friday despite efforts to end the walkout that has
idled most of the nation's busiest cargo complex.
Seven of eight terminals in Los Angeles and three of six in Long Beach were
closed to cargo container traffic as dockworkers refused to cross picket
lines set up by union clerical workers who claim shippers are outsourcing
their jobs.
There were a handful of picketers at each terminal on Friday, said Phillip
Sanfield, Los Angeles port spokesman.
Combined, Los Angeles and Long Beach handle 40 percent of the nation's
import trade
At least 18 cargo ships have been unable to load or unload since workers
began the strike on Tuesday. A handful of vessels that were anchored
offshore apparently left for other ports, Sanfield said.
The walkout involves clerical workers from a chapter of the International
Longshore and Warehouse Union, who typically make more than $160,000 a year.
Dockworkers are a separate unit of the same union.
The clerical workers' contracts with 14 terminal operators expired 2½
years ago. Ongoing contract talks broke off on Monday then resumed on
Thursday, ran until midnight and were scheduled to continue on Friday.
The chief negotiator for the shippers remained hopeful about a resolution,
saying the talks have been professional and courteous.
"There's a mutual commitment to go forward," said Stephen Berry of the Los
Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Employers Association. "The employers remain
hopeful that there will be a quick resolution and we can get the cargo
flowing again."
A call to union spokesman Craig Merrilees seeking comment was not
immediately returned.
There was no immediate word on how much the strike is costing the ports.
November generally is a slower time for the ports because most holiday goods
already have been handled.
However, there were concerns that a continued widespread strike could prompt
retaliation from terminal operators. A bitter 10-day lockout at a number of
West Coast ports in 2002 caused an estimated $15 billion in losses.
At issue is the union's contention that terminal operators have outsourced
local clerical jobs out of state and overseas — an allegation the shippers
deny.
Striking clerical worker Trinie Thompson, 41, said Thursday afternoon that
her fellow strikers do work at computers — such as collections, customer
service and setting up container movement — that can be handled from
anywhere, and employers were taking advantage of that to use non-union
workers overseas.
"We're definitely concerned about the outsourcing of jobs here," said
Thompson, who added jobs were being sent to Costa Rica, India and Taiwan.
Shippers deny outsourcing and have offered lifelong job security to the 600
or so full-time clerical workers, Berry said.
They also have offered to boost average annual pay from $165,000 to $195,000
and grant 11 weeks of paid vacation, he said.
The shippers claim the union wants contract language to permit "
featherbedding" — the practice of requiring employers to call in temporary
employees and hire new permanent employees even when there is no work to
perform. |
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