fbpx
DB Schenker - Now That's Logistics
  • English
  • Insights
  • Shipping & Logistics
  • Digitalization
  • Trade
  • Industries
    • Aerospace & Defense
    • Automotive
    • Beverages
    • Chemical
    • Consumer
    • Electronics
    • Fashion & Retail
    • Healthcare & Pharma
    • Industrial
    • Marine Parts
    • Oil & Gas
    • Semi Conductor & Solar
No Result
View All Result
  • Insights
  • Shipping & Logistics
  • Digitalization
  • Trade
  • Industries
    • Aerospace & Defense
    • Automotive
    • Beverages
    • Chemical
    • Consumer
    • Electronics
    • Fashion & Retail
    • Healthcare & Pharma
    • Industrial
    • Marine Parts
    • Oil & Gas
    • Semi Conductor & Solar
No Result
View All Result
DB Schenker - Now That's Logistics
No Result
View All Result
Home Shipping & Logistics Land Transport

LA, Long Beach working with White House to prevent future labor showdowns

April 24, 2015
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia said Wednesday Southern California port and political leaders are continuing a dialogue with the Obama administration to develop a plan that will ensure U.S. commerce will never again be crippled because of problems encountered during labor negotiations.

West Coast ports are still recovering from the congestion that resulted from difficult contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association. The talks were marked by ILWU work slowdowns that lasted from early November until a tentative agreement was reached on Feb. 20.

When it appeared that the negotiations were going nowhere late last year, and West Coast ports were becoming crippled by the congestion that resulted, the mayors and port directors in Long Beach and Los Angeles participated in almost daily conference calls with President Obama’s economic advisers. The president in early January sent Labor Secretary Thomas Perez to San Francisco to help mediate the negotiations. He was joined briefly by Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker.

Early in the week ending Feb. 20, President Obama reportedly told the PMA and ILWU that if an agreement was not reached by that Friday, he would ask both sides to move the negotiations to Washington the following week. The tentative agreement was announced late that Friday, and the ILWU membership will vote on the contract next month.

Garcia told a luncheon meeting sponsored by the Pacific Merchant Shipping Association Wednesday that discussions with President Obama’s economic advisers continue, with the goal being to ensure the nation’s economy is never again “held hostage” by West Coast labor negotiations. “We have to make changes in the system to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” he said.

Meanwhile, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles continue to recover from the congestion of the past year. Both ports in March announced near-record monthly container volumes. The Marine Exchange of Southern California earlier this week reported that container vessels at anchor dropped briefly to two, the lowest number since the slowdowns began in November.

Also, he said, the port directors and mayors have been visiting customers throughout the U.S., Asia and Europe to rebuild the reputation of the nation’s largest port complex and to discuss recent improvements intended to bring about long-term efficiencies in cargo-handling and gate transactions.

The fact remains that when it comes to strategic location in the U.S.-Asia trade lanes and the more than $6 billion the ports are investing in marine terminal, rail and roadway infrastructure, “no one can compete with us,” Garcia said. “We have the largest capital investment program in the U.S.,” he said.

That will not, however, prevent ports in other states from attempting to capitalize on the problems Southern California just experienced, Garcia said. If there is something positive that can be said about port congestion, it is that cargo volumes are strong. In a direct attack on a recent trade mission led by Florida Gov. Scott Walker to solicit business from California, Garcia compared Florida “with 15 ports and two ships, versus our two ports, each with 15 ships waiting to get in.”

Garcia also cited the cutting-edge technologies in cargo-handling and emissions reductions that are being developed in Southern California’s maritime sector, led by the ports’ technology advancement program. “Something exciting is happening. The challenge is to think about what this industry will look like in 10 years,” he said.

Citing the efforts of start-up companies in Southern California that are contributing to innovations in cargo handling and pollution reduction, Garcia said, “Smart people are coming here looking to invest. That is the future of our industry.”

Source: Bill Mongelluzzo, JOC.com

Next Post

Rumors continue in China about the consolidation of four state-owned giants after first-quarter loss announcement

RECOMMENDED

Top 15 Ports in The Americas

Top 15 Ports in The Americas

March 16, 2018
5 Airfreight Trends to Keep On Your Radar Screen in 2023

5 Airfreight Trends to Keep On Your Radar Screen in 2023

December 27, 2022
Thought Leadership Updates with David Buss

Thought Leadership Updates with David Buss

January 30, 2022
Top 15 Ports in the Americas 2019

Top 15 Ports in the Americas 2019

June 24, 2019

TRENDING

What’s On Tap for Ocean Shipping in 2023?

What’s On Tap for Ocean Shipping in 2023?

November 29, 2022
3 Things You Need to Know about Importing Chocolate

Three Things You Need to Know about Importing Chocolate

February 2, 2017
The Top Air Cargo Airports in the US

The Top 10 Freight Airports in the US

March 12, 2019

5 Ways to Start Preparing Your Supply Chain for CNY 2023 Now

November 16, 2022
Six Contract Logistics Trends to Watch in 2023

Six Contract Logistics Trends to Watch in 2023

December 13, 2022
DB Schenker

DB Schenker is the world's leading global logistics provider, delivering over 150 years of premium performance and transportation solutions. One call gets our customers on the fast track to nearly 2,000 locations in all of the world's most important economic regions.

Contact Us

United States
+1 (800) 225-5229 (in USA)
+1 (602) 458-6200 (outside USA)
www.dbschenker.com/usa
Canada
+1 905 676 0676
www.dbschenker.ca

Categories

Visit Us

• DB Schenker Americas
• DB Schenker Canada
• DB Schenker Careers
• DB Schenker USA
• Trade Advisory Solutions

Follow Us

• LinkedIn
• Twitter USA
• Twitter Canada
• Facebook

© 2022 Schenker Americas, Inc. | Privacy Policy

No Result
View All Result
  • Insights
  • Shipping & Logistics
  • Digitalization
  • Trade
  • Industries
    • Aerospace & Defense
    • Automotive
    • Beverages
    • Chemical
    • Consumer
    • Electronics
    • Fashion & Retail
    • Healthcare & Pharma
    • Industrial
    • Marine Parts
    • Oil & Gas
    • Semi Conductor & Solar
  • pt-br Português
  • fr Français
  • es Español
  • en English

© 2022 Schenker Americas, Inc. | Privacy Policy

We use cookies in order to optimize our website and continually improve it. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. You can find further information on cookies in our privacy policy. Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT