LA port clerks submit final offer in wage talks
Clerical workers presented their final offer to shipping companies after all-night contract talks aimed at preventing a strike at the largest US port complex.
"We've done all we can," said John Fageaux Jr., president of the Office Clerical Unit, Local 63, of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
If the offer is rejected, clerks could strike as early as tomorrow, but Fageaux said he was hopeful a new contract agreement would be reached. "I think we're very close," he said on Saturday.
However, Steve Berry, lead negotiator for the shipping companies, said the companies' negotiating team needed time to study the union's offer to "decide what our final response would be." He said the next meeting with the union was scheduled for tomorrow.
Among the contract issues that remain under dispute were wages and employer-proposed health plan changes for new hires, Berry said.
The twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles handle more than 40 per cent of all cargo container traffic coming into the US.
The 15,000-member ILWU has indicated that longshoremen would honour picket lines if the clerical workers strike.
The clerks work at marine terminals and handle bookings for the export of cargo and other transport documents.
The talks began in May and continued after the current contract expired on June 30. Despite a strike deadline imposed last Monday by the union, the negotiating teams continued to meet stoking concerns about a possible shutdown at the ports.
All told, Local 63 represents more than 900 full-time and temporary workers for 17 shipping companies and other cargo firms at the ports.
The negotiations, however, only cover contracts for between 600 and 850 full- and part-time workers at 14 companies.
"We've done all we can," said John Fageaux Jr., president of the Office Clerical Unit, Local 63, of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
If the offer is rejected, clerks could strike as early as tomorrow, but Fageaux said he was hopeful a new contract agreement would be reached. "I think we're very close," he said on Saturday.
However, Steve Berry, lead negotiator for the shipping companies, said the companies' negotiating team needed time to study the union's offer to "decide what our final response would be." He said the next meeting with the union was scheduled for tomorrow.
Among the contract issues that remain under dispute were wages and employer-proposed health plan changes for new hires, Berry said.
The twin ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles handle more than 40 per cent of all cargo container traffic coming into the US.
The 15,000-member ILWU has indicated that longshoremen would honour picket lines if the clerical workers strike.
The clerks work at marine terminals and handle bookings for the export of cargo and other transport documents.
The talks began in May and continued after the current contract expired on June 30. Despite a strike deadline imposed last Monday by the union, the negotiating teams continued to meet stoking concerns about a possible shutdown at the ports.
All told, Local 63 represents more than 900 full-time and temporary workers for 17 shipping companies and other cargo firms at the ports.
The negotiations, however, only cover contracts for between 600 and 850 full- and part-time workers at 14 companies.