Paul Berger of The Wall Street Journal reports that the union that represents workers at ports from Maine to Texas cancels labor talks in row over use of automated machinery. Berger writes:
Dockworkers at America’s East Coast and Gulf Coast seaports canceled labor talks that were due to start this week and raised the possibility of a strike later this year at some of the country’s biggest trade gateways.
The International Longshoremen’s Association canceled talks set for Tuesday in Newark, N.J., to protest the use of automated machinery at some ports, which the union says violates prior labor agreements.
The withdrawal from the bargaining table marks a harsh start to negotiations aimed at securing a contract covering more than 45,000 dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas ahead of the current agreement’s expiration Sept. 30. A walkout at that time would come as goods are flowing into the country ahead of the end-of-year holidays and threaten the American economy just ahead of the presidential election. […]
People familiar with the negotiations say most issues specific to local ports have been resolved, but some issues, such as automation, are unresolved. The talks due to take place Tuesday would have been the beginning of coastwide discussions over issues such as wages.
Read more here.
