West Coast Labor Disputes

Relations between members of the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union and waterfront employers on the U.S. West Coast have heated up in recent weeks, with protests and other actions in the Pacific Northwest and at ports in California.

Special Coverage

Labor Strife at West Coast Ports

Second PNW Grain Terminal Locks Out ILWU

06 May 2013

Contract disagreements between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and grain terminals in the Pacific Northwest accelerated over the weekend as Columbia Grain in Portland became the second facility where management locked out union workers.

United Grain, ILWU File Complaints With NLRB

03 May 2013

A total of six charges have been filed to the National Labor Relations Board by union dockworkers and United Grain Corp. at the Port of Vancouver, The Columbian reports.

Slow Medical Claim Processing Sparks ILWU Protest

01 May 2013

Dockworkers protesting the slow processing of medical claims picketed a terminal at the Port of Oakland Wednesday, one day after a similar action interrupted cargo handling at a terminal in Tacoma.

ILWU Takes Grain Terminal Dispute to Public

26 Apr 2013

Longshoremen in the Pacific Northwest are intensifying their efforts to draw attention to the plight of International Longshore and Warehouse Union members that have been locked out of a grain elevator in Vancouver, Wash., since Feb. 27.

Neither Side Budges: PNW Terminal Talks Break Down

25 Mar 2013

Contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and three grain terminal operators in the Pacific Northwest broke down at the weekend with each side refusing to consider the other’s proposal.

ILWU Marches ‘Fair’ Contract to United Grain

11 Mar 2013

International Longshore and Warehouse Union grain workers Monday delivered what they consider to be a “fair” contract to the offices of United Grain Corp. with the hope of ending an employer lockout that has been under way at the Vancouver, Wash., grain export terminal since Feb. 27.

Commentary

The Turmoil Never Ceases

Peter Tirschwell

As the TPM Conference convenes in Long Beach this week, the trans-Pacific market’s ability to throw curveballs year after year continues to impress. In past years, these took the form of port congestion, West Coast labor unrest and biblical rail backups — all largely unanticipated and forcing the industry into crisis mode.

Sandy and Newtown: A New Perspective on Shipping’s Woes

Gary Ferrulli

It's Time for Politicians to Take a Stand

Peter Tirschwell

Search form