As mentioned yesterday, rumors are flying around that West Coast ports will begin shutting down gradually this week (either via lockout or strike). This afternoon, James McKenna, President and CEO of the Pacific Maritime Association, the organization negotiating on behalf of the steamship lines and terminal operators, sent out a public video message. The message spells out the following:

    1) The impact of slowdowns at the terminals the past three months has reach critical levels.
    2) The offer that the PMA has presented on the table for the ILWU is more than fair. This is the first time that details of the offer have been made public. Detailed information regarding negotiations have been heretofore subject to a news blackout.
    3) A line is being drawn in the sand. McKenna seemed to imply that there is impending gridlock and that if the ILWU doesn’t act to approve the latest offer on the table, there is nowhere left to go other than a work stoppage.

The ILWU has not yet responded to McKenna’s public statement. However what we are seeing here is a tension ratcheting up, not down.

I will continue to provide updates as we receive them.

-Jimmy Ting
Great World
t: 650-873-9050 x1019
jimmyting@great-world.com