Posted on 12/28/2014 7:18:35 PM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
The West Coast port slowdowns are hurting workers as well as retailers this holiday season.
The NBC affiliate in Seattle reported that many of those who work for the ports can’t afford utilities or Christmas gifts for their families because the slowdowns have delayed their paychecks.
The work slowdowns are the result of a seven-month labor dispute between the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). Each side of the dispute blames the other.
Vicki Raiter, the mother of one of the Port of Tacoma workers, told the local NBC affiliate, “If the shipments aren’t coming, then they have no work and they tell them not to come in today.”
“My son says he can get the electricity on in two weeks, but I don’t know that we can hold out that long,” said Raiter. “We’re trying.”
The situation has prompted many involved to seek federal assistance to resolve the dispute. In the past week, the ports of Seattle and Tacoma wrote a letter to President Obama urging him to intervene.
The PMA is also asking for Washington’s help, noting, “It is clear that the parties need outside assistance to bridge the substantial gap between us.”
Wish we could. None of the West Coast States are “Right to Work”. In order to work on the docks, they must belong to the ILWU.
But Obama says the economy is improving significantly, thanks to him.
Yea, but when you make that much you have to spread the wealth a bit or they don’t let you make that much. And I’m not talking union dues here.
Sidenote investing tip: BNSF and UP derive a lot of revenue moving shipping containers full of cheap Chinese plastic fake vomit and x-ray glasses east on doublestack trains.
lowlife union scum alert!
Wait until the Panama Canal expansion is done... then you’ll see a west coast port slowdown.
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I recall seeing an article here on FR a couple of days ago that indicated the Panama Canal project was millions of dollars over budget.
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