The six-year West Coast dockworkers contract is set to expire tomorrow, but the unions and shipping organisations insist the ports will not be disrupted.
The Pacific Maritime Association that represents 72 shipping companies and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have both said they want to reach an agreement, even if it means talking after the deadline.
Neither side wants a replay of the bitter, 10-day lockout in 2002 that caused an estimated US$15 billion in economic losses.
A spokesman for the Longshoremen said it had no plans to call for a strike authorisation vote by members at the 29 ports covered under the contract. About 26,000 workers would be affected by the new contract.
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Source: cargonewsasia.com
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