This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/dec/28/us-port-shutdown-averted-longshoremen
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US port shutdown averted as talks with longshoremen continue | US port shutdown averted as talks with longshoremen continue |
| (30 days later) | |
| A deal was made Friday that for now averts a strike by 14,500 longshoremen at major ports on the US east coast and Gulf of Mexico that would have threatened the country's economy. | A deal was made Friday that for now averts a strike by 14,500 longshoremen at major ports on the US east coast and Gulf of Mexico that would have threatened the country's economy. |
| A federal mediator announced that an expired contract for workers in the International Association of Longshoremen would be extended for 30 days while negotiations continue. | A federal mediator announced that an expired contract for workers in the International Association of Longshoremen would be extended for 30 days while negotiations continue. |
| The longshoremen had been preparing for a possible strike Sunday that likely would have crippled operations at ports that handle about 40% of all US container cargo. | The longshoremen had been preparing for a possible strike Sunday that likely would have crippled operations at ports that handle about 40% of all US container cargo. |
| The White House had weighed in on the issue, urging dockworkers and shipping companies Thursday to reach agreement "as quickly as possible" on a contract extension. | The White House had weighed in on the issue, urging dockworkers and shipping companies Thursday to reach agreement "as quickly as possible" on a contract extension. |
| The 15 ports involved in the labor dispute move more than 100m tons of goods each year. Losing them to a shutdown, even for a few days, could cost the economy billions of dollars. | The 15 ports involved in the labor dispute move more than 100m tons of goods each year. Losing them to a shutdown, even for a few days, could cost the economy billions of dollars. |
| Major steps have been made toward resolving the dispute, said George Cohen, the head of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. | Major steps have been made toward resolving the dispute, said George Cohen, the head of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. |
| The extension came after the union and an alliance of port operators and shipping lines resolved one of the more challenging points in their monthslong contract negotiations, involving royalty payments made to union members for each container they unload. | The extension came after the union and an alliance of port operators and shipping lines resolved one of the more challenging points in their monthslong contract negotiations, involving royalty payments made to union members for each container they unload. |
| The Alliance has argued that the longshoremen, who it said earn an average $124,138 per year, are already well compensated. | The Alliance has argued that the longshoremen, who it said earn an average $124,138 per year, are already well compensated. |
| Negotiations will continue until at least midnight on 28 January. | Negotiations will continue until at least midnight on 28 January. |
| "While some significant issues remain in contention, I am cautiously optimistic that they can be resolved in the upcoming 30-day extension period," Cohen said. | "While some significant issues remain in contention, I am cautiously optimistic that they can be resolved in the upcoming 30-day extension period," Cohen said. |
| The master contract between the International Longshoremen's Association and the US Maritime Alliance, a group representing shipping lines, terminal operators and port associations, originally expired in September. The two sides agreed to extend it once before, for 90 days, but it had been set to expire again on 12.01am Sunday. | The master contract between the International Longshoremen's Association and the US Maritime Alliance, a group representing shipping lines, terminal operators and port associations, originally expired in September. The two sides agreed to extend it once before, for 90 days, but it had been set to expire again on 12.01am Sunday. |
| A work stoppage would have idled shipments of a vast number of consumer products, from electronics to clothing, and kept US manufacturers from getting parts and raw materials delivered easily. | A work stoppage would have idled shipments of a vast number of consumer products, from electronics to clothing, and kept US manufacturers from getting parts and raw materials delivered easily. |
| Major ports that would have been frozen included the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Savannah, Georgia, Houston and Hampton Roads, Virginia. | Major ports that would have been frozen included the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Savannah, Georgia, Houston and Hampton Roads, Virginia. |
| "The global economy moves by water, and shutting down container ports along the east and Gulf coasts while the national economy remains fragile benefits no one," Deborah Hadden, acting port director at Massport, the public agency that oversees shipping terminals in Boston. It is not a part of the contract dispute. | "The global economy moves by water, and shutting down container ports along the east and Gulf coasts while the national economy remains fragile benefits no one," Deborah Hadden, acting port director at Massport, the public agency that oversees shipping terminals in Boston. It is not a part of the contract dispute. |
| A work stoppage would not be absolute. Longshoremen would continue to handle military cargo, mail, passenger ships, non-containerized items like automobiles and perishable commodities like fresh food. | A work stoppage would not be absolute. Longshoremen would continue to handle military cargo, mail, passenger ships, non-containerized items like automobiles and perishable commodities like fresh food. |
| A walkout could be the biggest national port disruption since 2002, when unionized dockworkers were locked out of 29 West Coast ports for 10 days because of a contract dispute. | A walkout could be the biggest national port disruption since 2002, when unionized dockworkers were locked out of 29 West Coast ports for 10 days because of a contract dispute. |
| The ports only reopened after President George W Bush ordered an 80-day cooling-off period. Some economists estimated that each day of that lockout cost the US economy $1bn. It took months for the retail supply chain to fully recover. | The ports only reopened after President George W Bush ordered an 80-day cooling-off period. Some economists estimated that each day of that lockout cost the US economy $1bn. It took months for the retail supply chain to fully recover. |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. Enter your email address to subscribe. |