The Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles currently face a strike that could send ripples throughout the sporting goods industry, causing late deliveries of fall and back-to-school product. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union threatened to honor picket lines if a contract is not reached soon for the 750 clerks that have been working without a contract since July 1 of this year.
The ports impacted by the threatened strike, as a combined entity, are one of the busiest in the country, accounting for approximately 40% of all cargo container traffic coming into the U.S. The 15,000-member union has indicated that longshoremen would honor picket lines if its 750 clerks go on strike.
John Fageaux Jr., a spokesman for the International Longshore Warehouse Union, told local papers that there are only a “handful” of issues still on the table, like wages, job security and pension benefits. Steve Berry, lead negotiator for the 14 marine terminal operators and other employers, told local papers that the employers were preparing a response to the union's latest offer. The clerks warned that a strike would occur if no deal was reached by midnight last Monday, but negotiations continued after that deadline.
The clerks work at marine terminals and handle bookings for the export of cargo and other transport documents. A work stoppage could create ripple effects throughout many industries that depend on timely movement of cargo. It also would come as the ports enter their busy pre-holiday season.
Union employees will continue to work at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach while negotiations are considered ongoing. No new strike deadline has been set. Under their most recent contract, full-time, port clerical workers earned about $37.50 an hour, pension, health care benefits, and 20 paid holidays a year.
