The Associated Press is reporting today that the West Coast Longshoremen have reached a tentative agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association that could pave the way for an era of labor peace on West Coast docks.  The agreement covers the difficult technology issues that were the chief sticking point that prevented the two sides from reaching an agreement earlier and precipitated the lockout/labor action (see 'West Coast Shippers Lock Out Longshoremen') that caused President Bush to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act.  The union and the shippers are currently in the midst of an '80-day cooling off period' which forced workers to return to the docks, but which would allow them to strike again at the end of the injunction.  It appears that both sides gave ground to reach the tentative agreement that covers the jurisdiction and job security for marine clerks, whose jobs may be eliminated by new technology.  Although the technology issue was not the only problem between the Longshoremen and the PMA (disagreements over pensions and work rules arbitration remain), it was the most difficult, which means that the two sides should be able to reach a final agreement. 

 

The PMA has been unhappy about the slowness of activity at some ports since the implementation of the Taft Hartley Act -- something that should clear up once an agreement is reached and ratified.  Still the flow of toys, CMGs, and other products for this holiday season has already been affected (see 'Lockout Effect Lingers on Left Coast'), and the new agreement, even if it is completed quickly, won't be able to loosen the logjam of products anytime soon, since the backlog of freight to be unloaded is reportedly at about the same levels as it was when the lockout ended.