| Tentative Agreement
to end U.S. West Coast Dispute |
|
(Toronto, November 26, 2002)…
On November 24, The Pacific Maritime
Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse
Union (ILWU) reached a tentative six-year contract agreement,
potentially ending the labour dispute which closed U.S West
Coast ports and resulted in Presidential intervention.
The agreement still must be ratified by a majority of the
10,500 members of the ILWU in a vote likely to take place
after the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday. This step is being
viewed as a formality, and it is expected that the members
will ratify the contract at that time.
The PMA had locked out dock workers at the 29 U.S. West
Coast ports for 10 days, resulting in President Bush invoking
the Taft-Hartley Act, which re-opened the ports on October
9. This was a temporary measure, designed to allow for continued
contract negotiations and a ratification that now seems
likely to occur.
For more information, please call (905) 882-4880 David
Lychek, Manager – Ocean Services.
|
