SIMIC

DISRUPTIVE tactics by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) continue to afflict cargo flow at the west coast's largest ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland Seattle and Tacoma, according to the Pacific Maritime Association.

At times, the ILWU at Los Angeles and Long Beach refused to dispatch lashers who secure cargo for transpacific voyages and unfasten cargo after ships arrive.



"Without this vital function, ships sit idle and cannot be loaded or unloaded, leaving American exports sitting at the docks unable to reach their destination," said a PMA update.



"The ILWU's refusal to dispatch lashers had been part of a broader effort to withhold necessary labour from the docks. The union failed to fill 260 of the 900 jobs ordered at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. In total, 559 registered longshore workers who came to the dispatch hall were denied work opportunities by the union.



"Each shift without lashers working resulted in more ships sitting idle, occupying berths, and causing a backup of incoming vessels. With the ILWU's decision to stop withholding labour, terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have for now averted the domino effect that would have resulted in backups not seen since last year's supply chain meltdown.



Even though some port operations have improved, the ILWU's repeated disruptive work actions at strategic ports along the west coast are increasingly causing companies to divert cargo to more customer-friendly and reliable locations along the Gulf and east coasts. It is difficult to win back cargo once it's diverted.