Cargo Business Newswire

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Breaking Story

Progress reported by ILWU and PMA with tentative health benefit agreement

Tangible signs of progress appear to be materializing after the almost two months since the deadline expired on a new six-year master contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association.

The ILWU and PMA announced via statement late yesterday that they "have reached a tentative agreement on terms for health benefits, subject to agreement on the other issues in the negotiations."

"Maintenance of health benefits (MOB) is an important part of the contract being negotiated between employers represented by the PMA and workers represented by the ILWU," the joint statement said.

No other details were released, as has been the practice thus far between the two parties.

The announcement came on the heels of a letter sent to the ILWU and PMA by Sandy Kennedy, president of the of Retailer Industry Leaders Association, that warned of the potential repercussions such as the working waterfront shutdown of 2002 on the U.S. West Coast.

The current longshore contract negotiations have not reportedly encouraged any overt labor issues , although Kennedy said her group's retail industry members would "continue to exercise contingency plans throughout their massive supply chain operations despite the fact the West Coast negotiations have not reached an impasse."

There have been reported freight bottleneck issues occurring through Western Canada's main port in Vancouver, BC related to shipper contingency re-routing.

The DP World Centerm Terminal at Port Metro Vancouver had announced last week it would cease accepting U.S.-bound containers intended for rail transfer due to a shortage of railcars.

The terminal was operating over capacity due to a surge of diverted U.S. cargo over the past few months caused by uncertainty over the ongoing U.S. West Coast labor negotiations. The influx has stressed all terminals at Port Metro Vancouver, according to a statement released by the terminal operator.

According to DP World, of the more than 78,000 feet of rail cargo at the terminal last week, 50,000 feet was U.S.-destined cargo.

TSI Terminal Systems, the largest operator of container terminals at Port Metro Vancouver, announced it would continue to accept U.S.-bound rail cargo at the B.C. port.

DP World reported it would continue to handle U.S. bound cargo moving by truck to regional markets or nearby container yards.

In early July, Canadian National Railway began issuing equipment allocations to ocean carrier customers through Metro Vancouver and the Port of Prince Rupert.

More Newswire stories

ILWU reaches agreement with PNW grain terminal owners, lock-out ends

OOCL launches joint service on NE Asia, Australia and New Zealand trades

Nautilus and Metro Ports subsidiary move headquarters to Long Beach

Logistics survey indicates positive present for sea freight, less optimistic future

5 Truck drivers charged in connection with container fatality

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