Clerks strike giant Los Angeles-Long Beach ports after contract expires; cargo still moving

Clerks strike key Calif. ports; cargo still moving

LOS ANGELES — Clerical workers who handle critical paperwork for the nation’s busiest port complex went on strike Thursday against several terminals, but ships were still being loaded and unloaded at the Los Angeles and Long Beach docks, a port spokesman said.

A few dozen people from the workers’ 900-strong union picketed outside terminals after their contract expired after midnight, said Los Angeles port spokesman Phillip Sanfield.

“The port is still operating, fully functioning,” he said. “Several of the terminals have no pickets on site at all. A couple of the terminals have three or four.”

The local Office Clerical Unit of the International Longshore Warehouse Union struck four terminals after its labor contracts with 14 shippers and terminal operators expired. John Fageaux Jr., president of Local 63, declined to say whether workers at the remaining terminals would join the strike later.

Longshoremen, who are members of another ILWU unit, historically have honored picket lines and refused to cross picket lines at two terminals overnight.

A full job action could shut down loading and unloading operations at the twin ports, which handled nearly $316 billion worth of cargo last year. But an arbitrator ruled that the clerical unit had bargained in bad faith and ordered longshoremen back to work by 8 a.m., Berry said.

ILWU spokeswoman Jennifer Sargent said all 250 longshore workers, foremen and marine clerks who work at the four struck terminals respected the picket line, but when the arbiter declared that the picket was “not bonafide,” they had to abide by their contracts and return to work.

Fageaux said the arbitrator only found that the clerical strike was improper under the longshoremen’s contract.

“We (clerical workers) have every legal right to picket and strike … and we will continue to do so,” he said.

Stephen L. Berry, a negotiator for the Harbor Employees Association, which represents shippers and terminal operators, said they rejected the latest proposal received from the clerical workers’ union late Wednesday, which called for a wage increase of 21 percent over three years.

Under the expired contract, the clerical workers had an average salary of $96,900 a year, full medical coverage, at least 21 paid holidays, and 13 sick days and four weeks of vacation per year, he said.

Berry said the shippers countered with a proposal that includes a 10 percent increase in monthly pension payments and protection from layoffs.

Mike Whitlock, a picket who has been a union member for 28 years, said his main concern was that his job might be outsourced.

“It’s about keeping what we have, keeping our benefits,” Whitlock said. “Wage has never been an issue.”

“We understand that we’re fortunate; we have no problems with that,” he said.

No contract negotiations were scheduled Thursday, but both Fageaux and Berry said they were optimistic that the two sides would resume communications at some point.

The clerks process export bookings and other transport documents for shippers and terminal operators.

The shippers want to use new computer programs allowing customers to access booking information. The workers are worried that may lead to their jobs being outsourced.

“We’re not opposed to technology that will create more efficient processes, but we do not agree if it allows others to do our work,” Fageaux said.

Berry said shippers must have more flexibility in staffing because of the economic downturn.

“When business was booming, there was sufficient work for the employees to perform,” Berry said. But now, “the workload is not steady. It’s not sufficient to keep all those people busy,” he said.

Workers threatened a walkout three years ago, but talks continued after the deadline. Both sides ultimately reached a deal in which the workers got a raise and an agreement that allowed monitoring of whether any of their job duties were being outsourced.