TOP US LABOR OFFICIAL ARRIVES AS WEST COAST PORTS BACK UP

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

BY JUSTIN PRITCHARD

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The nation's top labor official is arriving in California in an attempt to resolve a damaging contract dispute between West Coast dockworkers and their employers.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez is flying Monday to San Francisco, where negotiations between the dockworkers union and a maritime association of companies have come to a halt.

So, too, has processing of billions of dollars of cargo due to pass through 29 seaports from Southern California to Seattle. Over the holiday weekend, companies locked out workers who would normally load or unload ships.

FULL story at link.



The Space Needle is seen just beyond a container ship anchored in Elliott Bay near downtown Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, in Seattle. The waters off Los Angeles, Oakland and Washington state's Puget Sound have become parking lots for dozens of ships awaiting space at the docks. Employers are locking out dockworkers who man the cranes that lift cargo on and off ships, saying they have slowed work as a bargaining tactic, but the union denies that. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PORT_LABOR?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-02-16-16-34-45

[ripcord]

1. The work slow down was not helpful

[Cryptoad]

3. Fucking over their employees is not helpfull either. nt

[craigmatic]

2. Just give the workers what they want so they can get back to work.

[Cryptoad]

4. Corps are making record profits,,,,

can't raise the pay!

[craigmatic]

5. Labor hasn't had a win in this country since the 80's I hope they win this one.