Port Of Oakland Experiences Work Slowdowns Over Maintenance Repair Uncertainty
Labor disputes have been a lingering source of contention for West Coast ports. The latest issue involves a work slowdown last week at the Port of Oakland due to what was deemed “uncertainty surrounding the new labor agreement” between the port and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, The Trucker reports. The uncertainty involved part of the contract that said “it’s the union members’ job to maintain and repair chassis” at the facility. However, trucking industry officials, including the American Trucking Associations, have contacted the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, arguing ILWU members “don’t have the legal right” to perform such maintenance tasks. Curtis Whalen, Executive Director for the ATA’s Intermodal Motor Carriers’ Conference, said members of the ILWU had been “stopping port truckers and inspecting the chassis after they were already hooked up, and many times said they found something wrong but would not say what it was, causing delays.”
Meanwhile, Overdrive Magazine notes that Intermodal Bridge Transport workers at the Port of Los Angeles are “the latest truckers to threaten strike” if their “right to unionize” isn’t recognized. Overdrive reports that amid the continuing labor problems at West Coast ports, Congress has been working on legislation that would “allow governors to more easily intervene in labor disputes that could threaten flow of U.S. goods.” Sen. Cory Gardner introduced a bill last week that would enable governors to “petition courts to enjoin port slowdowns due to strikes and lockouts,” according to the article.
What This Means For Small Businesses
Many small businesses in Los Angeles rely on West Coast ports to efficiently import and export goods worldwide. News of continued work slowdowns is troubling for business owners, though other reports indicate momentum to address the issue in Congress. For now, business owners face worries that their goods won’t effectively get to market.
Additional Reading
NFIB recently covered efforts to upgrade efficiency at West Coast ports.
