The US Port of Oakland has been affected by another minor work stoppage which some say is a reaction to the stemming from the uncertainty surrounding the new labour agreement on the west coast.
A Port of Oakland spokesperson told Port Strategy that full operations resumed at the Port of Oakland Monday (June 1) following the resolution of a dispute between marine clerks and waterfront employers on Sunday.
Vessel operations on three ships were apparently suspended Sunday night over an issue involving conflicting interpretations of labour dispatching language in the new west coast longshore labour contract. The matter was settled in arbitration.
Just last month PS reported that things were finally looking up for US west coast ports with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) approving the new labour contract with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), with 82% of votes in favour of the ratification.
The breakthrough came after nine months of negotiations that turned contentious snarling up and down the US west coast seaports, which handle about US$1 trillion worth of cargo annually.
The new five-year labour deal involves 29 PMA representative ports from San Diego to Seattle. But the exact details of the new work rules have yet to be confirmed by either the ILWU or PMA.
