Tensions in negotiations over a new U.S. West Coast longshore contract continued to rise as employers accused union employees of slowdown tactics they say have lowered productivity by 20 percent to 30 percent at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

A six-year labor contract between carriers and terminal operators and members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) expired July 1. According to spokesmen for the union and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) representing employers, the two sides remain in "good talks" but no progress has been reported on a new multi-year contract.

Union members in Southern California since July 11 have been taking simultaneous 15-minute coffee breaks, instead of staggered breaks, slowing the flow of cargo handling. PMA officials said the "unit breaks" lowered productivity by 10 percent to 15 percent and that more slow-down efforts became evident July 15.

 
"We've noticed activity at Los Angeles and Long Beach that concerns us," said Steve Getzug, spokeman for the PMA. "There was a productivity fall-off on Tuesday of 20-30 percent. They are driving the tractors inside the terminals at a slower speed and 'floating the load' a little longer than necessary. They are little things but added together are slowing things down incrementally."

"Floating the load" refers to the time a container is suspended from a crane while being loaded onto or unloaded from a vessel.

Getzug said that the concern is not just what is happening at the terminals right now, but also the pattern that is emerging -- and its similarity to ILWU actions in past negotiations.

In addition to the Southern California slowdowns, ILWU pickets halted work for four hours Friday night on an Evergreen ship at Tacoma. The vessel had to leave without 82 export containers that had been booked on it.

Because the ILWU refused to extend the expired contract, employers have no mechanism to police slowdown activity.

The union has said the breaks are nothing more than a "modest and measured expression" of workers' concern over the talks.

But Getzug said that such changes in work schedules should be done collaboratively, not unilaterally. "In the past, unit breaks have been ruled an illegal work action in Southern California. But without a contract, we can't challenge the practice."

He said the carriers and terminal operators are hearing from customers who are concerned about the slowed pace in Southern California.   "They understand the history behind this and what the slowdown tactics can mean. Our customers also understand  what these disruptions can mean to an economy at a time when we can least afford it."

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