The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) has accused the union representing West Coast port workers of carrying out further disruptive action in two more important locations further south.

In a statement the entity claimed the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) had now targeted the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach by 'unilaterally refusing to dispatch hundreds of qualified, skilled workers for key positions transporting containers'.

It said the ILWU informed the PMA on short notice that starting Nov. 3 it would not dispatch qualified union members who had significant experience operating yard cranes in the terminal and placing cargo containers on trucks or rail cars for delivery to customers.

Earlier in the week the PMA alleged the ILWU had initiated illegal slowdowns in the ports of Seattle and Tacoma; a claim that the union vehemently denied.

"We've used the same dispatch procedures for qualified crane operators since 1999," PMA spokesperson Wade Gates said in the statement.

"After 15 years, the ILWU leadership has unilaterally decided to change the rules for hundreds of qualified workers who are dispatched daily to help operate terminals at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports."

The PMA statement went on to say terminal congestion had been a mounting issue at Southern California port terminals, citing a variety of factors including a surge in cargo volume, shortage of chassis and rail cars, and insufficient numbers of truck drivers.

It claimed the ILWU was exacerbating the situation by refusing to fill critical positions.

"The ILWU's job actions, which have already crippled operations at the ports of Seattle and Tacoma, now threaten to do the same in Los Angeles and Long Beach," the PMA statement said.

"Together, these four ports collectively handle nearly 80% of all containerized cargo at West Coast ports. The job actions began soon after a PMA offer responding to the ILWU's demands during contract negotiations last week."

Gates said although the existing congestion was having ripple effects throughout the supply chain, it was the alleged ILWU slowdowns that could bring the ports to gridlock.

"The ILWU's orchestrated job actions are threatening the West Coast's busiest ports and potentially billions of dollars in commerce," he said.

"It is essential that the ILWU return to normal operations, as promised, so that we can continue meaningful negotiations in a productive environment free of union-staged slowdowns that are disrupting terminal operations at our largest ports."

Negotiations for a new coast-wide contract covering nearly 20,000 longshore workers at 29 West Coast ports began in May, with the goal of reaching an agreement by July.

"After six months of negotiations, during which a tentative agreement was reached on maintaining health benefits, the ILWU has resorted to its old playbook of slowdowns in order to leverage the employers at the bargaining table," said Gates.

"We were hopeful that the ILWU's promises of normal cargo operations during negotiations would prove true – and until last week, they did. Now, they reneged on that agreement.

"Ultimately, despite our differences on the issues, the PMA and the ILWU both have an interest in preserving jobs on the docks and in our communities. It is time for us to show that we are serious about reaching agreement without putting jobs and our economy at risk."

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