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On Friday, June 2nd, terminals throughout various West Coast ports were shut down due to labor shortages. Workers in the ILWU (International Longshore and Warehouse Union) left their jobs due to failed contract negotiations. Over the past year, the ILWU and PMA (Pacific Maritime Association) have been in talks regarding contractual agreements like wages. Despite the progress made in the negotiations, a resolution has yet to be made. More than 20,000 workers from the ILWU have been working in numerous West Coast ports since July 2022. Terminals in Los Angeles, Long Beach Oakland, Seattle, Tacoma, and Hueneme ports have all reported disruptions from the walkouts.
The disruptions continued in the Port of Seattle with the shutdown of the entire seaport on June 10th. On June 9th, the second and third shifts experienced massive slowdowns as ILWU officials led operations to a pause. The Port Authority responded by sending the workers home; insufficient workers led to closure the next day. This port is one of the biggest movers of grain and produce in the U.S. Shipments from U.S. exporters are currently idle at the docks, with the ILWU declining to dispatch terminal workers. The ILWU made a contradictory statement: that the Port of Seattle and other ports are operating.
Union workers noted that they are not getting an adequate pay increase for the work they are putting in. Especially compared to the revenue the U.S. shipping industry made during the coronavirus pandemic. The ILWU said in a statement that they are negotiating for a contract that is “fair and equitable”. Business groups recently sent a letter to the Biden administration to appoint a mediator to address the current protests. Nearly 12% of the U.S.’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product) comes from West Coast ports. With the Port of Seattle being one of the biggest harbors in the U.S., International Shipping may soon feel the impact.
The Port of Seattle is a top U.S. agricultural exporter and, with the Port of Tacoma, makes up the NWSA. NWSA (Northwest Seaport Alliance) is North America’s 4th largest container gateway and 2nd largest refrigerated container gateway. With its extensive size, many supply chains are affected by a port shutdown. Add the disruptions of the other West Coast ports to the mix, and many cargo movers may soon be impacted. The supply chain congestions and bottlenecks felt during the coronavirus pandemic may return. Shippers have also moved their shipments to the East Coast and Gulf Ports to mitigate the slowdown.
As the pressures on the Port of Seattle and other West Coast ports persist, billions of cargo remain stagnant. With the peak and holiday season quickly approaching, the industry may feel the current disruptions sooner. Despite this, the movement of shipments is necessary for the success of an incredible number of supply chains. However, a shipper must be current with any occurrence in the freight movement industry. Contact A1 Worldwide Logistics at 305-821-8995 to help meet your supply chain goals. Whether it’s importing, exporting, warehousing, etc., we help you navigate the complex world of shipping.
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