SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Container ships filled with car parts, appliances, computers and scores of other essentials will sit untouched at 29 West Coast seaports for four days amid an ongoing labor dispute between the longshoreman's union and shipowners.
The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shipping lines and terminal operators, said cargo loading and unloading operations at the ports are suspended today, Saturday, Sunday and Monday because companies don't want to pay overtime for longshoremen during the long holiday weekend. The PMA and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents 20,000 dockworkers, have been at odds since July when the dockworkers' contract ran out.
"Last week, PMA made a comprehensive contract offer designed to bring these talks to conclusion," PMA spokesman Wade Gates said. "The (longshoreman's union) responded with demands they knew we could not meet, and continued slowdowns that will soon bring West Coast ports to gridlock. What they're doing amounts to a strike with pay, and we will reduce the extent to which we pay premium rates for such a strike."
Robert McEllrath, president of the longshore and warehouse union, said the PMA's move is "an effort by the employers to put economic pressure on our members and to gain leverage in contract talks. The union is standing by ready to negotiate, as we have been for the past several days."
Ongoing work stoppages and delays have caused headaches across the West Coast and beyond. U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue urged President Barack Obama to step in before the situation gets any worse.
"This is now a growing crisis that is impacting farmers, retailers, and manufacturers throughout the country, as well as trucking and railroad companies who have far less cargo to move," he said in a written statement. "The time is long past for the parties to agree on a contract."
The West Coast ports are responsible for moving all of the imports and exports that travel to and from Asia. The last West Coast port lock out, which lasted for 10 days in 2002, cost the U.S. economy billions.
