WEST COAST LONGSHORE CONTRACT TALKS ôDAY-TO-DAYö
Negotiations were scheduled to resume Tuesday afternoon between U.S. West Coast waterfront employers and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.
The Pacific Maritime Association, the management group representing terminal operators, stevedores, shipping lines and other waterfront employers, said after talks Monday evening that the PMA and the ILWU agreed to extend their existing contract 'on a day-to-day basis.'
The agreement had been scheduled to expire at 5 p.m. Monday.
'Both sides said Monday they are committed to negotiating an agreement. Except for a minor battle of words between the PMA and a member of the International Transport Workers' Federation, who was attending the negotiations, there has been little evidence of public posturing. That differs from negotiations in 1999 that were marked by slowdowns by ILWU members and the PMA backing off demands for implementing technology to raise terminal productivity.
Joseph Miniace, PMA president and chief executive officer, said Monday the employers would consider a lockout if ILWU employees state slowdowns.