Dockworkers' contract expires, but trade continues [View all]

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP-Excite

By JUSTIN PRITCHARD

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The contract that keeps thousands of dockworkers on the job at ports from San Diego to Seattle expired Tuesday afternoon, but both sides pledged to continue negotiations without a disruption in the billions of dollars of trade that crosses the West Coast waterfront.

The union which represents dockworkers and the association which represents shipping lines and terminal operators at 29 ports issued a joint statement saying that while the current six-year contract will not be extended, both sides will keep talking — and working.

"Cargo will keep moving, and normal operations will continue at the ports until an agreement can be reached between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union," the two groups said.

The expiration without a deal was not a surprise. Indeed, no resolution is expected for weeks, with tough issues including whether workers should shoulder more of the hefty cost of health care yet to be resolved.

FULL story at link.


Read more: http://apnews.excite.com/article/20140702/us-port-labor-6fd2c7d53c.html

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FILE - In this Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2013, file photo, container ships wait to be off-loaded at the Port of Oakland in Oakland, Calif. The contract that keeps workers on the job at 29 West Coast ports expires on Tuesday, July 1, 2014. Both sides have said not to expect a deal, and that they will continue to bargain. (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File)