Well surprise, surprise, surprise. The Longshoreman's Union accused of orchestrating a "concerted, systematic work slow-down."
Port Operators Submit Data
Of Slowdown on the Docks
By QUEENA SOOK KIM
Staff Reporter of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
West Coast port operators said they've submitted data to the Department of Justice alleging a "concerted, systematic work slow down" by longshoremen, the first step in a potential government suit against the dock workers' union under the Taft-Hartley Act.
The Pacific Maritime Association, which groups terminal operators at 29 West Coast ports, said that it submitted the data as a result of a sharp slowdown in productivity at the ports.
According to the PMA, the movement of cargo containers is 34% below normal in Oakland, 29% below normal in Portland, 27% below normal in Seattle, 19% below normal in Tacoma, and 9% below normal at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Under the Taft-Hartley Act, which was invoked by the Bush administration, members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union were ordered back to work on October 9 by a federal judge after a nearly two-week-long PMA lockout.
If the Justice Department choses to sue the ILWU and the union is found guilty of a deliberate slowdown, it could be subject to fines or held in contempt.
The ILWU has denied deliberately slowing down work and says that its members are just adhering to safety regulations.
online.wsj.com
(gotta love those unions!) |
