Since negotiations began in late May, there has been relative silence and peace on the subject of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union’s (ILWU) contract negotiations with the employer group Pacific Maritime Association (PMA). However, frustration is now making its way into the news and onto the waterfront.
The current hot spot is the use of members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) to plug vessels into shore side power in Seattle/Tacoma. The use of IAM mechanics has long been a rub with the ILWU who claim jurisdictions of all jobs on the waterfront.
This sticking point is slowing down operations as workers stick to the letter of the ILWU Safety Code Book.