West Coast port workers urged to stand firm

By Paul Wilborn
Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — With labor unrest looming at West Coast ports, the Rev. Jesse Jackson told thousands of union members yesterday to "stand your ground" in a rally in support of dockworkers.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson yesterday voiced his support for dockworkers. Advertiser library photo

The ports handle more than $300 billion in trade annually, and a work stoppage would ripple through an already fragile American economy.

Mayor James Hahn sent the president a letter yesterday urging him to stay out of the conflict between 10,500 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shippers.

"Federal intervention at this critical juncture is not needed and may well exacerbate the dispute," Hahn wrote.

The contract for workers who handle trade at 29 major West Coast ports expired July 1. Both sides had kept goods flowing with short-term extensions, but the latest extension expired Sunday.

Without a deal, dockworkers could stage work slowdowns as early as today. Shipping lines that employ the dockworkers have threatened a lockout if there is a slowdown.

Any work stoppage or slowdown could cripple Hawai'i's economy, which relies on shipping for about 90 percent of goods.

A new contract also is being negotiated for about 480 dockworkers in Hawai'i. Those talks are scheduled to resume next week, Local 142 president Bo Lapenia said.

In Los Angeles, union workers ranging from dockworkers to pipefitters to schoolteachers joined in the solidarity demonstration and picnic yesterday, where talk centered on the possibility of a strike or lockout.

"If there is no contract, there will be no business as usual at California's ports," said Jerry Acosta, a spokesman for the AFL-CIO.

Sticking points for a new contract are arbitration, health benefits and new technology that could cost jobs.