For those who have shipments being handled at APM Terminals in Oakland, it was a rough day today. For those of you who don’t know, Waste Management of Alameda County locked out the nearly 500 union drivers and equipment operators after contract talks broke down.

This morning, ILWU workers walked off APM Terminal in Oakland to show their solidarity with the local Teamsters 70 union, whom Waste Management has been negotiating with. The PMA was brought in to arbitrate and by about noon or so APM Terminal was back in operation. This isn’t the first or last time something like this happened, but if you were hoping to get cargo picked up out of APM Terminal in Oakland today expect some delays.

Meanwhile down south there is news of a possible clerical union strike by the ILWU:

“Los Angeles and Long Beach are under some threat of an office clerical union strike in the near future that could disrupt the ports’ operations if contract negotiations are not resolved,” reads a recent analysis in the groups’ jointly-published Port Tracker report.

“With holidays already scheduled for three days in July, a shutdown due to a strike could cause problems for both ports. Aside from the situation at Los Angeles and Long Beach, the rest of the major retail container ports across the country are operating without congestion from harbor to gate,” the monthly publication said.

Rank-and-file members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 63 and the Marine Clerks Association recently authorized a strike, but negotiations are continuing even though the union’s contract expired June 30.

The monthly report recently upgraded the ports’ congestion rating from low to moderate, because of the possible job action.

So far everything seems to be moving as normal, but in the event of a strike vessels that call on Los Angeles before moving up to Oakland could experience delays. In addition, as we have seen with Waste Management and countless other examples in the past, ILWU members at other ports on the West Coast and possibly nationwide could conduct work slowdowns or stoppages in support of the clerical union in Los Angeles/Long Beach.

This is a critical time for retailers and major importers as peak season is just coming into full gear. Any work slowdowns or stoppages could adversely affect your company’s supply chain.

Share This

Stumble it!