Just days after the Port of Oakland declared that it was
making significant progress on clearing a cargo backlog that built up during
months of labor unrest, operations at a container terminal came to a halt on
March 11 due to labor issues.
According to the port and the International Longshore &
Warehouse Union, yard and gate operations at Oakland International Container
Terminal, which is operated by SSA Terminals, were ceased around 10:30 am Wednesday
morning due to a dispute.
SSA Terminals said that it has dismissed longshore workers
after they refused to work due to a dispute over staffing levels. The ILWU
claims that 45 dockworkers were fired and sent home.
In a statement issued on SSA’s behalf, the Pacific Maritime
Association said the incident was caused by the ILWU local refusing to adhere
to standard operating protocol.
“The terminal in question follows standard industry practice
of hiring two workers for every yard crane – the same as at every other
terminal at the port,” the statement reads in part. “Yet, ILWU Local 10 is
refusing to allow yard cranes to operate unless that number is increased to
three.”
The PMA’s statement also says that the three-person demand was
something that Local 10 made, but then dropped during the nine months of negotiations
between the union and PMA that ended in February with a tentative five-year
contract for workers and management at 29 West Coast seaports.
The Maritime Association claims Local 10 has also refused to
allow longshore utility workers to lock and unlock connecting devices between
chassis and containers, something that the PMA calls a “longstanding practice
at every terminal in the port.”
All marine terminals were open and active as of 8 am on
March 12, according to the port.
On March 6, the Port of Oakland touted its success in
reducing a cargo backlog caused in part by the nine months of labor unrest,
saying that signs of progress included a declining vessel backup; decongested
terminals; improved transaction times; and better terminal productivity.
