(Hundreds of) Thousands Apply for (3,000) California Port Jobs

[UpInArms]

http://www.forbes.com/technology/ebusiness/feeds/ap/2004/08/18/ap1509891.html

Hundreds of thousands of applicants are competing for 3,000 temporary jobs at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, hoping for lucrative wages in an otherwise weak labor market.

The jobs, which pay $20 to $28 an hour, were created to handle a record amount of cargo coming through both ports.

A Long Beach post office spokesman said Tuesday that a conservative estimate put the number of mailed-in applications at 220,000 to 250,000. The number may have been inflated by applicants sending in more than one each, though officials have said people who do so would be rejected.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union asked a mediator whether the hiring process could be delayed to ensure that everything runs smoothly, but the mediator ordered the union and West Coast shipping lines to proceed with their lottery and begin picking the 3,000 new dockworkers Thursday, as planned.

"This is almost like going to the horse track and betting on the long shot," said Raymond Sheets, a 47-year-old tree trimmer from San Diego who hopes to land a job at the harbor.

...more...

[tlcandie]

1. OMG! Those numbers are absolutely ridiculous!

If anyone needs proof that something is wrong with our economy and/or jobs in the US, please read this story!

:wow:

[displacedtexan]

2. They Shoot Horses, Don't They?

Sad.

I was one of 3000 applicants for 30 teaching jobs 3 years ago. The 30 of us hired got a standing ovation at the opening day meeting.

It was creepy.

[hatrack]

3. What's wrong with these people?

Don't they know you're supposed to bring in foreign laborers for these kinds of jobs? In addition, you're also supposed to pay them $7-8 per hour - none of this $20 - 28 bullshit!

I was referring to the employers, of course.

[Barkley]

4. The numbers may be off but not by much!

The working for the ports are very desirable they only have these lotteries ever so often.

My brother (who has a BA degrees) works for the Port of Long Beach and he says that they are really busy. He also has another full time job.

There aren't many job like this left in L.A. where you can earn $20 - $28 without a college education and/ or lots of experience.

and L.A. County has over 8 million residents; I'm almost certain that people from neighboring Orange County (2.5 million) are also applying.

[Yavin4]

5. Hey!

There aren't many job like this left in L.A. where you can earn $20 - $28 without a college education and/ or lots of experience.


There aren't many jobs in L.A. left that pay that much even if they do have a college education and/or lots of experience.

[tlcandie]

6. I bet you will see TONS applying with degrees as well! eom

[Sandpiper]

7. California Port Jobs

Are one of the few good-paying blue collar jobs left. The members of the Longshoremen's Union make around $80,000/year.

[Yavin4]

8. Ironically, There's a Demand for Port Workers

because of outsourcing. When everything is manufactured overseas, it has to be shipped into the U.S.