The Global Shipping Freeze.....long read but imo, worth it.

[rolling_Thunder]

So the unions just started this year?

Nope - but the ILWU has been a thorn in the side of efficiency here at LA/LB for decades.... they finally got a wake-up call when LBCT and several other companies only renewed their terminal leases with the caveat that they go to partial automation because they were sick of paying high prices (traced to the ILWU) for inefficient productivity. The ILWU employs some characters and have current active members of the Hell's Angels, Mongels, convicted murderers, etc... part of this blame is that the TSA does not have better vetting for TWIC cards... the only thing that prevents you from getting a TWIC is "terror-related" issues...

This isn't to pick on the ILWU singularly, they just happen to be the biggest union to be involved with this current issue.

The issue isn't the union... its when the union gets greedy and starts believing in its own importance. Let's be real here... being a longshoreman requires about a 4th grade education... (The ILWU has refused to enact education requirements and drug testing while also filing clause to prevent the criminal records of it's employees from being seen by authorities) == They are quickly pricing themselves out of a job with the emphasis on moving to full automation like pretty much every other developed port in the world.

 

[Roger63]

Nope - but the ILWU has been a thorn in the side of efficiency here at LA/LB for decades.... they finally got a wake-up call when LBCT and several other companies only renewed their terminal leases with the caveat that they go to partial automation because they were sick of paying high prices (traced to the ILWU) for inefficient productivity. The ILWU employs some characters and have current active members of the Hell's Angels, Mongels, convicted murderers, etc... part of this blame is that the TSA does not have better vetting for TWIC cards... the only thing that prevents you from getting a TWIC is "terror-related" issues...

This isn't to pick on the ILWU singularly, they just happen to be the biggest union to be involved with this current issue.

The issue isn't the union... its when the union gets greedy and starts believing in its own importance. Let's be real here... being a longshoreman requires about a 4th grade education... (The ILWU has refused to enact education requirements and drug testing while also filing clause to prevent the criminal records of it's employees from being seen by authorities) == They are quickly pricing themselves out of a job with the emphasis on moving to full automation like pretty much every other developed port in the world.

We have customers that ship their boats to the east coast, mainly S.Carolina,Virginia and Florida to be cradled and packed to go to eastern Asia and Russia to avoid the expense of shipping off the west coast.