Here’s the thing with container ships: you can move them. That’s the point, actually, so it’s not surprising that instead of waiting in long lines to have their cargo unloaded while the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union spent nine months in a contract dispute. Some ships were diverted to the East Coast, and it’s possible that those shipments may never come back to the West Coast. [More]
west coast ports
Secretary Of Labor Hopes To End West Coast Ports Gridlock
By 2.17.15
Today, workers at the major sea ports on the West Coast report back after a split four-day weekend. Contract negotiations between the union and a trade organization that represents shipping companies have continued for nine months, and the U.S. Secretary of Labor is joining the negotiations today before the slowdown has worse effects on the global economy. [More]
West Coast Ports Will Take A Split 4-Day Weekend Off
By 2.12.15
It’s hard to understand the contract dispute over workers at the ports on the west coast of the United States, because the two different sides can’t even agree on what they’re arguing about. Either longshoremen are deliberately slowing down their work to protest while still getting paid, or shipping changes have caused a backlog for diligent workers. Either way, there are a lot of containers of just about everything, waiting on ships. [More]
West Coast Ports Shut Down Entirely This Weekend
By 2.9.15
The backlog of unloaded cargo shops on the West Coast of the United States has had some odd effects on the world. We’ve pointed out some small, sometimes amusing issues: Asian automakers must use air cargo to ship needed parts to their factories in the U.S., and McDonald’s Japan airlifted emergency fries as it deals with a shortage. Yet all this hilarity could have serious consequences for the American economy if the current issues continue. [More]
