Terminal Shut Down at the Port of Oakland

The Port of Oakland’s largest container terminal was shut down Wednesday at noon due to an ILWU attempt to independently impose manning requirements that had failed to make it into the tentative agreement between the ILWU and PMA that was reached on February 20th.

According to the Journal of Commerce, the incident caused a great deal of concern because it became evident that ILWU locals were willing to challenge a coast-wide agreement created by an international union, and also because the agreement still has to be reviewed by an ILWU caucus of 90 delegates, who may recommend that the contract undergo ratifications.

In response to the incident, the PMA was quoted saying that ever since the tentative coast-wide agreement was reached on Feb. 20, “Local 10 has repeatedly engaged in illegal work stoppages at the Port of Oakland, bringing operations to a standstill at OICT, the largest terminal in the port.”

We will continue to keep you updated on the Port of Oakland as the situation unfolds.