Posted at 11:50 a.m., Thursday, June 28, 2001

Isle shipping strike feared

By Mike Gordon
Advertiser Staff Writer

Negotiations between union representatives and interisland barge operators continued today as businesses that depend on the shipments brace for a strike that could begin Sunday.

Workers' contract with Hawaiian Tug & Barge and Young Brothers Ltd. expires at midnight Saturday.

No details were released about possible sticking points in the new contract, or how close the sides are to an agreement.

"The union has no comment," said Jonathan Lono Kane, regional director for Inland Boatmen's Union of the Pacific.

"We are in negotiations with the company, and we said we would not speak to the media. The union and the company are attempting to come to an agreement before the termination of the contract."

The union represents 59 cooks, ordinary seamen, deckhands, first and second mates, engineers, dispatchers and operators at both companies.

"These employees are vital to our business and are valued," said Mark Cohen, Hawaiian Tug & Barge's vice president of maritime operations, in a statement. "We are doing all that we can to reach a settlement."

Laurence Vogel, president and CEO of food wholesaler Y. Hata & Co., said businesses on Maui and the Big Island depend on regular shipments. A strike would have "a serious impact," he said.

Vogel has no backup plan at the moment, although his warehouse in Hilo is well stocked.

"There really is no contingency other than air shipment, and air becomes an extraordinarily costly thing," Vogel said. "We will use it to fly emergency products over, but it increases the price astronomically."