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Ilwu Local News

13 Apr 2023

Employers Say Union is Disrupting Work at Southern California Seaports

© angeldibilio / Adobe Stock

The Pacific Maritime Association on Thursday said the largest longshore union local on the West Coast disrupted work at the nation's busiest seaport complex for the second week in a row, as labor talks covering 22,000 dockworkers from California to Washington state approach the one-year mark.Frustration is growing over the lack of resolution in the talks, which started in May.

12 Apr 2023

First Vessel Plugs In at Terminal 5 in Seattle

Photo courtesy of the NWSA and Justin Hirsch, ILWU Local 19

The Northwest Seaport Alliance’s Terminal 5 has welcomed MSC Brunella as the first vessel to plug in to the terminal’s new shore power infrastructure.Terminal 5 is the first international container terminal in the Northwest Seaport Alliance (NWSA) gateway with shore power capability, and the nearly 9,000 TEU vessel successfully used clean energy from the City of Seattle’s electrical grid while at berth on April 10.Shore power installation is a key part of the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy…

10 Apr 2023

Top US Shipping Gateway Mostly Closes Due to Port Worker Shortage

© Matt Gush / Adobe Stock

A shortage of West Coast port workers has forced the busiest U.S.

15 Feb 2022

Max Vekich Sworn In as FMC Commissioner

Commissioner Vekich during his confirmation hearing last fall. (Official U.S. Senate photograph by John Klemmer)

Max Vekich was sworn-in today as a Commissioner of the Federal Maritime Commission for a term expiring June 30, 2026.First nominated by President Joseph R. Biden on June 24, 2021, and then again on January 4, 2022. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on February 10, 2022, and is the 43rd person to serve on the Federal Maritime Commission.“Commissioner Vekich assumes office when his lifelong experience working on the waterfront will be especially beneficial. He understands port and supply chain issues from the perspective of a worker on the frontlines of making cargo move.

29 Jul 2020

Port of Vancouver USA Receives Record Shipment of Wind Turbine Parts

(Photo: Port of Vancouver USA)

The Port of Vancouver USA received a shipment of wind turbine components on July 22 that included the longest wind turbine blades ever to enter the West Coast of the U.S. and transported across North America, to-date. The port received a total of nine wind turbines including blades, nacelles, generators, hubs, tower sections and other sub-components. Eight of Goldwind’s GW155/4.2 MW turbines arrived on the MV Star Kilimanjaro. There are four complete turbines featuring Goldwind’s 76-meter blades and four additional turbines of the same model with blades arriving on later shipments.

12 Jan 2017

Los Angeles Port sets Highest Western Hemisphere record

Cargo volumes at the Port of Los Angeles reached 8,856,782 Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units in 2016, marking the busiest year ever for a Western Hemisphere Port. The previous record was set in 2006, when the Port of Los Angeles handled 8,469,853 TEUs. “The Port of L.A. is America’s Port  — and we’re breaking records because we understand the importance of innovating and collaborating to move our economy forward,” said Mayor Eric Garcetti. The Port finished the year strong, with December volumes of 796,536 TEUs, a 27 percent increase compared to the same period last year. It was the Port’s busiest December and fourth quarter in its 110-year history. Overall in 2016, cargo increased 8.5 percent compared to 2015.

04 Dec 2015

NLRB Holds ILWU Guilty of Labor Law Violations

For the second time in ten weeks, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has affirmed the decision of an administrative law judge that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU International) and ILWU Local 8 (Local 8) violated federal labor law by engaging in coercive activity directed against ICTSI Oregon, Inc. at Terminal 6 at the Port of Portland. The NLRB concluded that, between September 2012 and June 2013, ILWU members worked in a deliberately slow manner and otherwise interfered with productivity at Terminal 6 and that the ILWU International and Local 8 were responsible for this illegal conduct. According to Elvis Ganda, President and CEO of ICTSI Oregon, “The importance of this ruling should not be underestimated.

15 Jun 2014

Seaspan Signs MOAs With Guild & ILWU, Strike Averted

North Vancouver, BC — Jonathan Whitworth, Seaspan CEO, announced today that it has signed agreements with both the Canadian Merchant Service Guild (the Guild) and International Longshore Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 400 to enter into binding arbitration/mediation. Following extensive discussions with the Honourable Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Status of Women, Seaspan and both unions have agreed to allow the Federal Government to appoint an arbitrator who will run the process and be responsible for setting the terms of reference. Once the arbitration is complete, the outcome is binding and cannot be challenged by Seaspan or its unions.

08 Mar 2013

ITF Keeping Eye on Strike-busting Bulk Carrier

The vessel 'Long Beach' reportedly loaded at Vancouver's Mitsui-UGC terminal where union dockworkers are locked out. The ITF is keeping the port under close watch. Following the Long Beach incident it will be contacting the vessel’s owners and crew and explaining the situation at the port and what action seafarers are expected to take and not to take in these circumstances:  in line with the solidarity clause in their collective bargaining agreement. The vessel’s next stop is Nagoya in Japan, where it is expected to arrive on March 23. Dock workers from the ITF-affiliated International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) were locked out of their jobs at the Port of Vancouver in Washington, USA by their employer, Japanese conglomerate Mitsui.

04 Dec 2012

US Port Srikes: Arbitrator Steps In

The ILWU Local 63 Marine Clerks Office Unit (“OCU”) remains on strike at terminals in the Ports of Los Angeles & Long Beach. ILWU long shore locals continue to honor the OCU pickets and operations are completely shut down in APM Terminals. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Director George H. "Based on a joint request from the parties, negotiations between the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union Office Clerical Workers and the Harbor Employers Association will be conducted under FMCS auspices. I and Deputy Director Scot L. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation.

19 Nov 2012

Heavy Lift Ship Tests Port Rupert Pilots

Arrival HHL Macao: Photo credit Port Rupert Authority

Prince Rupert Port Authority, BC, saw the safe arrival of equipment integral to its coal export operations aboard 'HHL Macao'. The stacker/reclaimer unit, for delivery to Ridley Terminals Inc. is considered important for the planned expansion of coal export operations. The successful arrival of the vessel and subsequent movement of the stacker/reclaimer components required a wide-ranging team effort. The Prince Rupert Port Authority collaborated with ship's agent Peter Riley of G.W.

26 Sep 2011

Totem Terminal Named in Memory of Robert Magee

Photo courtesy Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc.

Legendary maritime and Pierce County community leader, Robert P. Magee, was honored September 21, 2011 with the naming of Totem Ocean Trailer Express, Inc’s Tacoma terminal in his memory. The Robert P. Magee Terminal dedication ceremony at Port of Tacoma was attended by about 150 industry and community leaders, extended family members, TOTE customers and employees who gathered to pay tribute to a man many described as visionary. After Bob’s death in November 2009, TOTE employees rallied around the idea of honoring Bob’s memory with a tribute.

07 Oct 2002

Work Resumes at Port of Tacoma for Alaska Cargo

Following negotiations with International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 23 and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), an agreement was reached allowing Tacoma longshore workers to load and discharge Alaska-bound domestic cargo ships. Approximately 70 percent of all commercial goods consumed in Alaska are shipped through Port of Tacoma terminals. The agreement allows Totem Ocean Trailer Express (TOTE) vessels to be discharged and loaded at the TOTE Terminal on the Blair Waterway. Also, CSX container ships will be discharged and loaded at the APM Terminal on the Sitcum Waterway.