ILA wins support from other unions in stalled contract talks with employers

WITH just over a month to go before its contract expires, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) says it has gained "expressions of support and vows of solidarity from other unions across the US and around the world," following last week's breakdown in negotiations with employers.

The ILA and employers represented by the US Maritime Alliance (USMX) have been working to replace a master contract for longshore workers at US East and Gulf coast ports that expires on September 30.

The union said it received support from the west coast dockers of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and its president, Bob McEllrath, as well as the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF), American Shipper reported.

The ILA said its president, Harold Daggett, expects to meet with Paddy Crumlin, president of the ITF and head of the Maritime Union of Australia in September and with Mr McEllrath and Ray Familathe, vice president of the ILWU.

Negotiations had been scheduled for this week between the ILA and members of the New York Shipping Association to discuss local contract issues. But those talks were called off following the breakdown in ILA/USMX negotiations.

Meanwhile, talks were expected to have resumed on the west coast on August 27 between the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbour Employers Association and the Local 63, Office Clerical Union (OCU) of the ILWU, following a two-week hiatus. The local doesn't represent dockworkers handling cargo, but clerical workers at shipping agencies and terminal operators in southern California.

OCU members have been working without a contract since June 2010, and those renewed talks have been conducted under a press blackout.

The talks have made some shippers nervous, because west coast ports are viewed as a possible alternative gateway if an ILA/USMX impasse closes east and Gulf coast ports. With contracts being negotiated on both coasts, there are concerns simultaneous ILA/ILWU strikes could disrupt ports throughout the country.

OCU members have gone on strike three times - once for nine days and twice for a day, most recently in November 2011. However, those work stoppages had limited impact on port operations because an area arbitrator said while OCU workers could strike, other ILWU members who actually handle cargo could not honour those picket lines without violating their own contract.