Americas News
U.S. West Coast Ports Union Fined for Work Stoppages and Slowdowns
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has been fined for causing slowdowns and work stoppages in U.S. West Coast ports during labour negotiations that hampered port operations for over half a year, World Maritime News reports.
During the course of the dispute, it was reported that a number of ships had begun rerouting voyages to other ports and countries, sparking concern among local bunker suppliers that they would see demand weaken.
The union was fined $59,628 by the U.S. District Court of Oregon, who ruled that ILWU branches in San Francisco and Portland had willfully and intentionally violated a previous injunction against work stoppages and slowdowns.
In addition to to paying the amount to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) as compensation, the ILWU has also been ordered to pay the board's legal expenses.
Despite the labour dispute's conclusion at the end of February, it was reported earlier this month that some shippers had already made moves to permanently change ports of call.
At the time, Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, had commented that it would be difficult to win back the business that had been lost.
