With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today during our fall member drive.
West Coast ports to temporarily suspend vessel operations this weekend
Cargo carriers at the Port of Long Beach.
(
Stock Photo: Maya Sugarman/KPCC
)
Weekend vessel loading and unloading operations will be temporarily suspended this weekend, The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) announced in a statement Friday.
The suspension comes in light of ongoing union slowdowns on the west coast that have caused port delays. PMA member companies decided they will no longer continue to pay workers “premium pay for diminished work,” the PMA noted.
“After three months of union slowdowns, it makes no sense to pay extra for less work,” said PMA spokesman Wade Gates in the statement, “especially if there is no end in sight to the union’s actions which needlessly brought West Coast ports to the brink of gridlock.”
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, speaking at Town Hall Los Angeles Friday, said the federal government should intervene in the labor negotiations at the Los Angeles ports.
Support for LAist comes from
"This is a place where Washington could step in,” the Bakersfield Republican said. “I've requested … a mediator [to] settle this problem. This is a loss for all of California."
Vessel operations are scheduled to resume Monday. Yard, rail and gate operations will continue at terminal operators’ discretion.
Jock O'Connell, international trade advisor at Beacon Economics, told KPCC that the fact that the option to suspend port operations is left to the terminal operator's discretion is odd.
"What it says to me, is that there is a possibility that not all PMA members are on board with the position of the PMA negotiators," O'Connell said.
O' Connell said the semi-lockdown would have a minimal impact because it would only last the weekend. This on top of the fact that February is not a busy month at the maritime facilities.
"Shutting down operations is going to be more of an annoyance than anywhere near a catastrophe economically," O'Connell said.
O' Connell said that the situation is heading towards a full lockdown.
Support for LAist comes from
"The problem is these two parties have been negotiating now for several months since last May. ... They seem to be far apart on some key issues that are leading them to engage in fairly draconian actions," O'Connell said.
A full lockdown would greatly affect people whose jobs are directly dependent on the port.
"The likelihood that we are going to see any end to this in the next few days is probably fairly slender," O'Connell said.
This story has been updated.
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
A tort claim obtained by LAist via a public records request alleges the Anaheim procurement department lacks basic contracting procedures and oversight. -
Flauta, taquito, tacos dorados? Whatever they’re called, they’re golden, crispy and delicious. -
If California redistricts, the conservative beach town that banned LGBTQ Pride flags on city property would get a gay, progressive Democrat in Congress. -
Most survivors of January's fires face a massive gap in the money they need to rebuild, and funding to help is moving too slowly or nonexistent. -
Kevin Lacy has an obsession with documenting California’s forgotten and decaying places. -
Restaurants share resources in the food hall in West Adams as Los Angeles reckons with increasing restaurant closures.
Best of LAist