Pacific Maritime Association announces pact with ILWU to augment workforce -- 3,000 new “casuals” to begin work on docks

Pacific Maritime Association announces pact with ILWU to augment workforce

-- 3,000 new “casuals” to begin work on docks --

San Francisco – The Pacific Maritime Association today announced that an agreement had been reached with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union to augment the workforce and alleviate the labor shortage at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The twin port complex, the third largest in the world, has been experiencing record volumes during an early onset to the traditional peak summer shipping season.

The agreement provides for the addition of 3,000 new “casual” workers, who are covered by the labor agreement between the PMA and ILWU but are not registered members of the workforce. The agreement further provides for the promotion of about 1,000 existing casuals into the registered ranks. Although agreement on the additions has been reached, details of the process have not been finalized. Details will be announced at a later date.

“This agreement represents a breakthrough in ensuring that cargo moves efficiently and securely through the West Coast ports,” said PMA President Jim McKenna. “Given the record-setting volumes moving through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, these workers will meet a critical need and enable us to keep the economy rolling.”

The first of the new workers are expected to reach the waterfront within the next month, to be trained at a rate of at least 100 per week. Casual workers are not guaranteed full-time work, but are eligible to work whenever the need is sufficient.

As part of the agreement, about 1,000 current casuals will be trained for skilled positions as partially registered members of the workforce. The rate of promotions will be about 200 per month over the rest of the year.

Today’s announcement capped more than a month of discussions between PMA and the ILWU regarding workforce additions for Los Angeles-Long Beach. Three weeks ago, the parties agreed to bring in about 1,200 temporary workers to fill the most pressing needs.

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