The ports strike became one of the most talked about events this year. With a strike deadline looming ahead it was important to try to get both sides talking. ... economy about $1 billion dollars a day. ... gross domestic product, which moves through the ports. Although the union hadnt taken a strike vote, it was accused of bringing freight moving through West Coast ports to a standstill with work slowdown during the last two sets of labor talks in 1996 and 1999. ... According to Jack Suite, the director of contract administration for the PMA, "A slowdown will not be tolerated, its just a strike with pay." The union didnt help matters much by saying that yes they are willing to keep talking and they arent planning to strike. ... However on a positive note President Bush had shown more willingness than past administrators to intervene in the airline labor negotiations and a lot of people are expecting him to do the same with the ports. ...
The key to the labor dispute is managements demand to allow data collected by shipping lines and their customers to be easily downloaded into computers at the ports, as opposed to being re-entered by hand by ILWU represented clerks. The Pacific Maritime Association, which is the management group that represents the major shipping lines and port-terminal operators, insists that without the use of this well-established technology, ports will not be able to handle the expected increases in trade between the U. ... The Pacific Maritime Association expected the ports to double their imports in seven years. They feel that in seven years the ports will be grid locked if they dont change things within the operation. ... Meanwhile 29 ports were still closed. ... They usually spend 10 or more hours a day shuttling tons of cargo between the ports and transfer stations. ... economy at least $19 billion dollars over twelve days. ... Although the lockouts were officially declared over, things at the ports would hardly be back to normal. ... They said that they wouldnt compromise safety to increase production and they continued to blame shipping companies for holding the nations economy hostage just to gain federal intervention. ... This intervention also guarantees ports will remain open through the Christmas holiday shopping season.
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