More US operations suspended

Weekend and holiday pay rates demand a premium of at least 50% of the basic longshore wage rate. So, members of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) said they will not carry out vessel operations on these days, paying full shifts of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) workers at such high rates for “severely diminished productivity” while the backlog of cargo at West Coast ports grows.

Beginning yesterday, the dates affected by the suspension of vessel operations are Saturday 14, Sunday 15 and Monday 16 (Washington’s Birthday) February.

Yard, gate and rail operations will continue at terminal operators’ discretion, while in Sothern California, terminal operators will expand daytime vessel operations on non-holiday weekends.

The ILWU slowdowns have been causing trouble for West Coast ports for the past four months now, but don’t show any sign of easing.

Last week, weekend operations were also suspended, and a recent PSM contract offer to the ILWU that would raise wages by 14% over five years on top of average full-time wages of US$147,000 per year, was met with demands “that would cripple the West Coast waterfront”.