Work Resumes after Evergreen and ILA Negotiations

Longshoremen along the East Coast began moving cargo for Evergreen Marine Corporation following a four-week work stoppage. The resumption of work followed yesterday’s action by the carrier’s North America agent, Evergreen America Corporation, to withdraw charges against the ILA that were pending before the National Labor Relations Board. The handling of cargo containers and ships coming in and out of the U.S. East Coast was halted beginning May 14 over an issue involving Evergreen America’s port captains. The ILA and Evergreen America began negotiating Tuesday night and worked into early this morning making progress in ³settling many substantive issues² before them. The parties were asked to clarify and reach a tenative understanding on a number if issues. No final agreements were reached, but other meetings will continue during the next several weeks. Evergreen America says they are pleased that that were able to effect resumed services to our valued customers and to work towards an amicable settlement with John Bowers and the ILA,” said a company spokesperson, Barbara Yeninas. “Since it is not our policy to conduct labor relations in the press, Evergreen America will have no further statement until a final agreement is reached,” she said.