The bulk of 2014 and early months of this year were characterized by tenuous negotiations between the dockworkers of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Managers Association (PMA), that led to work stoppages and historic congestion at West Coast ports. The office clerical branch of the union is now preparing ahead of time for its own contract negotiations to avoid a repeat of both the dockworkers’ discussions as well as the office workers’ own tumultuous talks in 2010.
Early start to negotiations meant to prevent work stoppages
The ILWU’s office clerical workers are planning on beginning negotiations early to avoid further work stoppages, according to the Journal of Commerce (JOC). The Office Clerical Unit (OCU) of ILWU Local 63 processes documents at the offices of 15 marine terminals and shipping lines in Los Angeles-Long Beach. The OCU must work out 15 separate contracts with employers, a reason why the office clerical workers have decided to start negotiations early. The workers are expected to begin discussions with employers in April, just under three months before their current contract expires.
Stephen Berry, an attorney who represents the employers, explained that the shippers intend to avoid consequences such as the diversion of cargo to the East Coast following last year’s negotiations.
“Employers are keenly aware of the diversion of cargo that took place to the East Coast, and the impact of the diversion on job opportunities at West Coast ports,” Berry explained to the JOC, referencing the dockworkers’ negotiations. “We want early resolution of these 15 contracts. We don’t want prolonged bargaining.”
OCU has the power to cease operations at marine terminals
The OCU is separate from the dockworkers unit of the ILWU. However, it is powerful and can affect cargo handling at West Coast ports. The branch of the ILWU has the power to erect picket lines at Los Angeles-Long Beach terminals, and the union’s dockworkers would stand in solidarity with the office clerical workers. Such a situation would lead to more congestion on the West Coast, just as shippers there are beginning to recover from the effects of the dockworkers’ negotiations and hoping for a reversal of East Coast cargo diversions.
The office clerical workers, and dockworkers along with them, set up picket lines in 2011 after 18 months of negotiations. The walk-out effectively ended operations at several terminals at the Los Angeles-Long Beach complex. The OCU intends to avoid such a situation again with the early start to discussions.