LA-Long Beach Back to Normal? Time Will Tell

By: Bill Mongelluzzo| July 08 2014

Cargo-handling and gate operations in Los Angeles-Long Beach were back to normal this afternoon after a waterfront arbitrator ordered longshoremen not to honor picket lines established by striking truck drivers.

The ILWU and PMA negotiators failed to reach a new agreement by the July 1 deadline. The ILWU and PMA said cargo handling would not be interrupted, but the ILWU refused to extend the previous contract while the negotiations continued.

With no contract in place, the waterfront grievance mechanism, through which either side can request arbitration during a labor dispute, was suspended. Therefore, members of the ILWU have been free to take any job actions they wished or to honor any picket lines in the harbor since July 1.

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