Port: Strike by hundreds of clerical workers not disrupting S. California port operations

Port: Strike not disrupting Calif. port operations

LOS ANGELES — A strike by clerical workers at the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors has failed to shut down the nation’s busiest port complex.

Los Angeles port spokesman Phillip Sanfield says only about 30 people are picketing at terminals Thursday morning and they haven’t caused any disruptions.

Members of the 900-member clerical union struck Thursday morning after their contract expired. They want wage increases and job protections.

Dockworkers could have honored the picket lines and shut down the ports, which handle 40 percent of cargo container traffic in the US.

Stephen Berry, the lead negotiator for the port’s shippers and terminal operators, says dockworkers did avoid two terminals overnight but they were ordered back to work after an arbitrator ruled that the clerical strike was illegal.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A strike by hundreds of clerical workers at the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors has failed to shut down the nation’s busiest port complex.

Los Angeles port spokesman Phillip Sanfield says only about 30 picketers are out at terminals Thursday morning and they haven’t caused any disruptions.

Members of the 900-member clerical union went on strike just after midnight after their contract expired. They want wage increases and job protections.

Dockworkers could have honored the picket lines and shut down the ports, which handle 40 percent of cargo container traffic in the United States.

Stephen Berry, the lead negotiator for the port’s shippers and terminal operators, says dockworkers did avoid two terminals overnight but they were ordered back to work after an arbitrator ruled that the clerical strike was illegal.