Vol. 76/No. 46      December 17, 2012

The strike shut down terminals at ports throughout Los Angeles and Long Beach. Details of the new agreement have not been released as of Dec. 5.

Clerical workers at Pier 400 in Long Beach walked off the job Nov. 27 in protest against terminal bosses’ refusal to negotiate a new contract. The following day union clerks at other terminals struck, ultimately shutting down 10 out of 14 cargo container terminals.

The ILWU clerks union has 800 members. The affected ports are the busiest in the U.S., handling 14 million containers per year.

Picket lines were honored by the 10,000-member ILWU Local 63, who work the struck docks. This included those who work for shipping lines as well as longshore workers, some of whom had been walking the picket lines with the clerks.

Total losses were estimated at $1 billion a day. Many ships bound for Los Angeles and Long Beach had sailed to other ports, where some cargo was unloaded.

Dottie Gogue, a striking clerk, explained to the Militant why they walked out. “Because of retirement and job loss, they have not replaced 52 positions,” she said. “We’re short-staffed. We don’t have enough bodies. Most clerks started out as temps.”

Further issues in dispute included “attrition of jobs,” and “control over floaters,” Gogue added. “I could come in one day and be sent to a job I know nothing about.”

She said temp workers can join the union after 30 days even though they don’t receive benefits or holiday pay.
 
 
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