Walkout by union dockworkers shuts down Oakland terminals

Terminals were all open as of second shift [Wednesday]were quite busy and operations are back to normal today, port staff said in an email.

The Pacific Maritime Association employers group confirmed union longshore workers walked off the job at the Ports of Oakland, Sacramento and Stockton “in violation of the PMA-ILWU contract.” An arbitrator confirmed that the coordinated work stoppage violated the contract and ordered the longshoremen back to work.

“Illegal work actions of this kind negatively impact businesses, workers and customers throughout the supply chain, including those who have no involvement with the dispute involved in today’s work stoppage,” the PMA said.

SSA Terminals, which operates SSA Oakland International Container Terminal, referred questions to the port.

Tensions over contract talks with striking warehouse personnel represented by the ILWU at C&H Sugar, 25 miles north of the port in Crockett, escalated this week when two union protesters were arrested after they and a crowd of supporters blocked truck access to the plant.

Local media reported that strikers blocked the plant after C&H hired non-union workers to unload a ship.

The sugar workers have been on strike since June 15.

This article was update July 22 to correct the date of the walkout to Tuesday, and to add statements from the Port of Oakland and the Pacific Maritime Association.

Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.

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