Cargo Business Newswire

Thursday, June 25, 2015

Top Story

ICTSI Oregon seeks tighter port slowdown rules through Congress

ICTSI Oregon, which runs Terminal 6 at the Port of Portland, says it helped to bring a bill to Congress that would address maritime labor slowdowns.

Idaho Senator James Risch introduced the Preventing Labor Union Slowdowns Act of 2015 (PLUS Act) in the U.S. Senate last week. The bill, which ICTSI said is the result of its lobbying efforts, would amend the National Labor Relations Act so that intentional slowdowns by longshore unions would be considered unfair labor practices.

Those violating the rules would face federal court injunctions against slowdowns as well as damage claims to injured parties, the statement said.

The measure would "help ensure that a small number of workers cannot engage in unfair labor practices that threaten our nation’s economic prosperity and hold our economy hostage," according to ICTSI Oregon CEO Elvis Ganda.

ICTSI and other port operators along the West

Coast grappled with the International Warehouse and Longshore Union earlier this year over various labor issues before a new contract was signed for West Coast dockworkers. During the conflict, the Port of Portland ultimately lost its largest carrier, Hanjin Shipping, due to chronic delays.

The PLUS Act has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, according to the ICTSI press release.