The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) has announced it will suspend vessel operations at West Coast port terminals for four days over President’s Day Weekend. Ships will not load or unload cargo on Thursday, February 12; Saturday, February 14; Sunday, February 15; and Monday, February 16.
Ports will operate as normal on Friday, February 13.
PMA has indicated these steps are necessary to avoid paying premium salaries to members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union on the holidays.
PMA spokesman Wade Gates said the longshoremen are continuing slowdowns “that will soon bring West Coast ports to gridlock. What they’re doing amounts to a strike with pay, and we will reduce the extent to which we pay premium rates for such a strike.”
Livingston continues to track the ongoing labor negotiations and will post updates as they become available. We recommend you bookmark our West Coast port updates page and follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest.
Source: American Shipper