Ports and Progression (Part 1)

California's governor, Jerry Brown, recently had an interesting quote. He said, "There's endless desire. The way I see it is, first you have a desire, and then you make it a need, then you make it a right, and pretty soon you got a law. Then as soon as you got a law, you got a lawsuit." Of course this is not the first time the Governor has made a statement that caught attention, but this one may just be the perfect analogy for what is happening in his own state.

The situation at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports started with the desire of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) for a new contract which would be more advantageous for their members, then this new contract became a need. Unfortunately, it was at odds with the desire/need of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to contain cost increases and improve the speed at which containerized freight could be processed through the ports. While it might be a normal process to wrangle over contract negotiations, this is not the first nor will it be the last time that a labor union and the employer(s) disagree on negotiation points.  It is, in fact, an excellent example of how the parties involved can become callous and uncaring of how their desire/needs/rights affect those around them and then the next group involved, and then the next, on and on ad infinitum, or if you please, ad nauseum.

Look at the progression of the events and see if you don't find the parallel between Governor Brown's quote about the illogical progression, or even more simply, the way a child will set dominoes on end forming twisting paths and then by tipping one, start a fall that transfers down the entire line.

May 12, 2014 - Talks Begin on New West Coast Waterfront Labor Pact

June 4, 2014 - PMA & ILWU Provide Update on Contract Talks

July 1, 2014 - PMA and ILWU Continue Talks on a New Labor Agreement as the Existing Contract Expires

July 7, 2014 - PMA and ILWU Provide Update on Contract Talks

July 11, 2014 - PMA and ILWU Provide Update on Contract Talks

July 18, 2014 - PMA and ILWU Provide Update on Contract Talks

July 25, 2014 - PMA and ILWU Provide Update on Contract Talks

August 26, 2014 - PMA and ILWU Update on Contract Talks: Tentative Agreement Reached on Health Benefits

November 3, 2014 - Longshore Union Initiates Orchestrated Work Slowdowns, Crippling Pacific Northwest Ports

November 6, 2014 - Longshore Union's Job Actions Spread from Pacific Northwest to Nation's Largest Port Complex in Southern California

November 13, 2014 - Longshore Union Slowdowns Continue in Advance of Critical Holiday Shopping Season

November 20, 2014 - ILWU Slowdowns Now Extend to Bargaining Table

December 17, 2014 - Negotiations Update

December 22, 2014 - PMA Requests Federal Mediation

December 29, 2014 - PMA Renews Call for Federal Mediation in West Coast Longshore Negotiations

January 2, 2015 - PMA Calls on ILWU Leaders to Stop Withholding Skilled Workers, Fact Sheet on ILWU Slowdowns here

January 12, 2015 - Longshore Union Work Slowdowns Bring Terminal Operations To The Brink Of Gridlock

As talk continues, what looms for the remainder of 2015? Part Two update publishing February 4, 2015.