Posted on 02/16/2015 7:30:54 PM PST by Citizen Zed
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The nation's top labor official flew Monday to California in an attempt to resolve a damaging contract dispute between West Coast dockworkers and their employers.
U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez headed for San Francisco, where months-long negotiations between the dockworkers union and a maritime association of companies have come to a halt.
So, too, has the movement of billions of dollars of cargo that is supposed to pass through 29 seaports from Southern California to Seattle. The ports are a critical trade link with Asia and the gateway not just for imports such as electronics, household goods and clothing but also U.S. exports including produce and meat.
Starting Saturday, companies locked out workers who would load or unload ships, saying they would not pay weekend or holiday wage premiums to crews they accuse of intentionally slowing work to gain bargaining leverage. As a result, cranes that would otherwise be moving containers onto dockside yards were raised up, stationary and eerily quiet on normally bustling waterfronts.
Dockworkers deny slowing down and say they want to work.
(Excerpt) Read more at lewistownsentinel.com ...
It will soon.
L
There are 29 ports between Seattle and San diego?
This guy will probably make things worse.
WWRD?
“I’m the under-assistant west coast labor man...” (Rolling Stones)
IE: His job is to make the union guys happy.
Did Perez bring his walking shoes and picket sign?
Mexico will open a big port, and these idiot union guys will be out of work!
“official arrives as West Coast ports back up”
What a crock. They have been backing up for months. They are coming to a standstill now.
Fire them all and hire Obama’s Illegals ?
Mexico ports and NAFTA drivers.
“Mexico ports and NAFTA drivers”
Yep! And no $100,000+union longshoreman.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Trg3sp_fM4g
The Stones’ song I referenced. A good tune - and an accurate representation of Perez’ role.
I knew a few longshoreman years ago when unloaded ships here ,some had very sticky fingers
“I knew a few longshoreman years ago “
Well, 40 years ago, I used to know a guy who knew longshoreman in Milwaukee. He got great pot from them. African Black Gungi. But I ain’t been into that for a long, long time!
This guy is there to represent the union. Count on it.
No, the stuff on the ships is already on the books of the importer of record, even though it isn’t off-loaded.
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