Blame bandied as port talks stall

By Simon Avery
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Negotiators for shipping lines that use West Coast ports called yesterday for a third-party mediator to help restart stalled contract talks with dockworkers.

The Pacific Maritime Association said mediation is the only solution unless the International Longshore and Warehouse Union presents a "serious" offer when the sides return to the table Tuesday.

The union's contract expired July 1. The two sides have agreed to rolling 24-hour extensions through Tuesday.

During the past 10 weeks, the parties have met 28 times for a total of nearly 54 hours, said Joseph Miniace, president of the PMA. "How can you expect to get anything done like that?" he said.

A spokesman for the ILWU called the mediation proposal a public relations ploy, saying negotiations have been ineffective because they have been undermined by government support of the PMA.

"Why do we need a mediator?" Steve Stallone said. "What we need to get back on track is the Bush administration to get out of the negotiations."

Earlier this week, administration officials said they are determined to keep cargo moving through West Coast ports by blocking a work slowdown or strike, or even by calling on troops to staff the docks should contract negotiations break down.

The ports are a key part of the U.S. economy, with some $260 billion a year in cargo moving through the facilities.

"We don't need a mediator. What we need is to operate the negotiations without outside interference," Stallone said.

Members of the ILWU plan a number of rallies Monday to protest what it says are threats from the White House.