By Laura Curtis | Bloomberg
The largest container gateway into the US remained closed Friday morning as a shortage of dockworker labor that halted operations Thursday evening goes into a second day.
“ILWU Local 13 withheld labor again for this morning’s shift. The action by the Union has effectively shut down the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach,” the Pacific Maritime Association said in a statement.
The terminal closures come as cargo volumes have dropped sharply at the Southern California ports from peak levels a year ago. The threat of disruptions and delays during contract talks has spurred retailers, manufacturers and other importers to avoid potential shipping snarls by diverting goods to the East and Gulf coasts.
The PMA, which represents ocean carriers and terminal operators in contract negotiations that have been ongoing since last May, said while some workers showed up Thursday evening a majority of the jobs went unfulfilled.
“The workers who did show up were released because there was not a full complement of ILWU members to operate the terminals.”
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s Local 13 chapter, which operates at the Southern California ports, has not returned a request for comment.
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