Dockworkers, Shippers Agree to Hire 3,000 Longshore Workers

Cargo shipments at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are expected to speed up after the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced on July 29 a new hiring process that will bring as many as 3,000 new workers to the docks.

The ports have experienced hefty backlogs due to peak season traffic from Asia and other leading manufacturing nations. Apparel retailers and importers have experience substantial delays due to a lack of manpower. The local chapters of the ILWU said as many as 12,000 workers are needed.

“This is a first step toward alleviating this year’s peak season cargo backlog,” said Dave Arian, the president of ILWU Local 13, based in Wilmington, Calif., which currently represents nearly 10,000 longshore workers. “But manpower is not the whole answer to the growing infrastructure crisis our ports are facing. If we don’t address railroad backlogs, improvements to trucking systems and the need for remote yards, the congestion will ultimately stifle the flow of goods.”

The program announced with the Pacific Maritime Association will initially bring 3,000 workers to the ports by way of a random drawing system. At the same time 1,000 workers will be promoted to Class B limited registration status.

“Our goal is to put people with skills into the right places on the docks so we can ease container congestion,” said ILWU Coast Committeeman Ray Ortiz, Jr. “This year we are facing a convergence of container congestion with huge new mega-ships bringing larger and larger loads into the ports and with the American public demanding more and more imports.”

Some apparel companies have avoided delays by shipping by air or by using shippers that operate their own docks.

“We did experience delays around July 4, so there was a catch-up period, but we’re back on track,” said John Clark, vice president of import for Los Angeles–based importer Paul Davril. “Now I hear those doing loose freight shipments [shared container shipment] are experiencing delays.” —Robert McAllister