900 clerical workers at ports of LA, Long Beach vote to authorize possible strike

Clerical workers at SoCal port vote to strike

LOS ANGELES — About 900 clerical workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have voted to authorize a strike a day before their contract with 14 shipping companies expire.

About 400 union members voted unanimously Tuesday night to strike when the current contract expires on Wednesday.

Weeks of negotiations with the the Harbor Employers Association have stalled.

Union president John Fageaux says the clerical workers don’t plan on working beyond the contract unless the companies make some concessions and get negotiations moving again.

The clerical workers want to prevent employers from outsourcing jobs. The shipping companies claim the union has not submitted a wage proposal.

A walkout would disrupt operations at the nation’s largest port complex.