ILWU recesses caucus, awaits PMA response to contract proposal

ILWU recesses caucus, awaits PMA response to contract proposal
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JOC › Port News › Longshoreman Labor › International Longshore and Warehouse Union

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Dec 16, 2014 7:02PM EST

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union today recessed the caucus that it opened on Monday as the union awaited a response from the Pacific Maritime Association on its latest contract proposal.

Last Thursday, the PMA presented a new contract offer to the ILWU. Union negotiators reviewed the proposal over the weekend, and on Monday returned it to the PMA with the ILWU’s comments. That is where the negotiations stood today.

PMA spokesman Steve Getzug said employers continued to review the document, and they expect to meet again with the ILWU later this week. No date was given.

ILWU spokesman Craig Merrilees said the union caucus completed its work for now, and the approximately 90 representatives were returning home today to their home ports. The caucus can be reconvened on short notice, he said.

When the ILWU negotiating team receives an offer that it deems acceptable, the caucus will reconvene. If the caucus approves the document, the tentative contract will be presented to the general membership for a vote. The voting process can take several weeks.

PMA said the ILWU work slowdowns that began in late October, and the union’s refusal to dispatch sufficient skilled operators in Los Angeles-Long Beach, continue to harm productivity at U.S.West Coast ports.

However, the Marine Exchange of Southern California today reported that there were two container ships at anchor. That was two fewer than on Monday, and the lowest count in recent weeks, which could indicate that container volumes have dropped off considerably now during this slack end-of-the year period.

Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com and follow him on Twitter: @billmongelluzzo