West Coast Port Slowdown May Become Lockout or Strike
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1971: The International Longshore & Warehouse Union’s 130-day strike was the longest in the union’s history. The Nixon administration ordered an 80-day “cooling off period” to encourage a resolution to the six-month conflict.
A lockout or strike is looming at the 29 West Coast ports after months of “slowdown” and a brief shutdown over the February 6-8, 2015 weekend.
The Pacific Maritime Association announced West Coast Ports will be suspended again Thursday through Monday again this weekend.
If a strike starts, some are calling for the Obama administration to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to resolve the situation.
The 1947 Taft-Hartley Act allows the president to address labor disputes which threaten free flow of commerce or jeopardize the health and safety of the country. It has been invoked 36 times in 65 years to keep union employees working. Taft-Hartley has not always worked in solving labor disputes through a multi-step process.
Bill Giddins of Continental-Aero told GlobalFastenerNews.com that “a strike may be the only way for this situation to come to a head as the current situation is not sustainable.”
“A strike would not initially present a problem, but depends on how long a strike would last,” Tom Bigott, purchasing manager for XL Screw Corporation, told GlobalFastenerNews.com.
“The lesson for the fastener industry is to buy fasteners manufactured in the United States,” suggested Steve Wilson, of Connecticut-based Crescent Manufacturing Inc.
For more on the effects on the Fastener Industry of the West Coast slowdown and possible strike, FIN Subscribers can CLICK HERE.
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