Member of the Sailors Union of the Pacific have given the go-ahead to launch a strike after labour contracts expire June 30.
The dispute stems from the trend for containerships to get bigger and more technologically advanced, meaning that smaller crews are required to operate ships. An online report by KITV Honolulu said that less than a dozen sailors do most of the work on a ship at sea.
"Matson Navigation has not at this time made any counter proposal or any proposal at this time to keep the containerships running," said union lawyer Charles Khim.
The report said that other unions, including longshoremen and even inter-island tugboat operators, share the same contract expiration date, raising fears that other groups main join any potential work stoppage.
"It's very important to point out this is not time to panic. Even though there are only two weeks left on these contracts, negotiations are ongoing and there is no stalemate," Mr Khim said, pointing out that there is plenty of time to resolve the contract or even to extend the contract if progress is made.
The report noted that according to unnamed sources a strike does not appear imminent. The talks to watch closely are happening on the US west coast between shippers and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which usually provides the pattern for contracts for Hawaii dockworkers and other shipping unions.
In Hawaii, benefits tend to be a big issue in contract negotiations, while on the mainland unions are trying to fight job reductions, it added.
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