US west coast dockers and shipping lines have announced they will hold early collective bargaining talks before current labour contract expires in 2008.
In a joint statement from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents workers at 29 ports, and the Pacific Maritime Association, representing 74 carriers, terminal operators and stevedoring companies on the west coast, the two sides expressed the hope that throughput disruption would be avoided.
It is hoped that early talks will avoid a shutdown like the one that closed American west coast ports for 11 days in 2002. The conflict drove business to rival ports and cost the US economy an estimated US$15 billion. The battle ended when President George W Bush invoked the Taft-Hartley Act and ordered the ports re-opened.
After that, the contracting ports were deluged with cargo that pushed business to record levels, and union membership to 14,279, up 38 per cent.
"The PMA and its member companies are committed to good faith negotiations with the ILWU that will result in a win-win contract for management, for workers and for the US economy," said Jim McKenna, maritime association president.
Said ILWU president Robert McEllrath: "The ILWU is likewise committed to good faith negotiations and is hopeful that the parties can reach a conclusion to negotiations without transportation disruptions from either side."
In a joint statement from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents workers at 29 ports, and the Pacific Maritime Association, representing 74 carriers, terminal operators and stevedoring companies on the west coast, the two sides expressed the hope that throughput disruption would be avoided.
It is hoped that early talks will avoid a shutdown like the one that closed American west coast ports for 11 days in 2002. The conflict drove business to rival ports and cost the US economy an estimated US$15 billion. The battle ended when President George W Bush invoked the Taft-Hartley Act and ordered the ports re-opened.
After that, the contracting ports were deluged with cargo that pushed business to record levels, and union membership to 14,279, up 38 per cent.
"The PMA and its member companies are committed to good faith negotiations with the ILWU that will result in a win-win contract for management, for workers and for the US economy," said Jim McKenna, maritime association president.
Said ILWU president Robert McEllrath: "The ILWU is likewise committed to good faith negotiations and is hopeful that the parties can reach a conclusion to negotiations without transportation disruptions from either side."