LOS ANGELES (AP) - The nation's top labor official is
bringing a clear message to dockworkers and their employers whose contract
dispute has crippled international trade through the West Coast's seaports:
Reach a deal, and fast.
U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez held what his office
characterized as "positive and productive meetings" Tuesday with both
the dockworkers' union and the maritime association representing companies that
own, load and unload massive ocean-going ships laden with imports from Asia and
U.S. exports.
It was his first full day in San Francisco, where both
the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime
Association are based. Perez renews his efforts Wednesday, with political and
economic pressure rising to get a contract and free cargo bottlenecks at 29
ports that handle about $1 trillion of trade annually.
As contract talks have stalled, so too has the flow of
trade. Dozens of ships are anchored off Southern California, and in San
Francisco Bay and Washington's Puget Sound. They're waiting for dock space that
-whether due to employer lockouts of workers or work slowdowns alleged by
employers - is taking weeks to free up.
Perez does not have legal authority to force an
agreement, but outsiders hope he can resolve differences that a federal
mediator could not.
The two sides already have reached tentative agreements
on key issues including health benefits and what jobs the union can retain in
the future.
And their wage proposals are not far apart. Under the
prior contract, which expired in July, average wages exceed $50 an hour,
according to the maritime association.
"While the parties have made tremendous progress,
Secretary Perez stressed that it's imperative the parties come to an immediate
agreement to prevent further damage to our economy and further pain for
American workers and their employers," the labor secretary's office said
in a statement Tuesday.
Spokesmen for the union and maritime association declined
to comment, citing a media blackout.
The issue that brought talks to a stalemate is whether to
change the system for arbitrating allegations of work slowdowns, discrimination
and other conflicts.
The union is pushing changes that would let either side
dismiss an arbitrator when the contract expires, typically after six years.
Both sides would then have to agree on a replacement. Motivating this demand is
a desire to replace the arbitrator who handles grievances in Los Angeles and
Long Beach.
The maritime association wants to keep the current
system, under which arbitrators effectively have lifetime appointments. The
association has argued that reappointment pressure might cause arbitrators to
sacrifice their independence because of worries they might offend one side and
jeopardize their future.
Source: My9NJ.com
No comments:
Post a Comment