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According to multiple media outlets, U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez has announced that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) have reached tentative agreement on a new five-year labor contract governing West Coast ports. Over the next several weeks, the membership of both groups must vote to ratify the contract,… Continue reading
As reported by multiple media outlets, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) held a press conference on February 4 to outline its latest contract offer to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). The proposed five-year agreement includes a commitment to continued 100% healthcare coverage for dockworkers (including the so-called Cadillac tax under the Affordable Healthcare… Continue reading
According to multiple media outlets, carrier members of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) are planning a new General Rate Increase (GRI), effective February 9, 2015. This latest GRI, announced as USD 600 per 40’ container, is being characterized as an attempt to increase base rate levels in advance of a projected volume spike prior to… Continue reading
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has announced that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) have requested its assistance in resolving the parties’ ongoing contract negotiations. The labor talks, which began in May and have reportedly contributed to current congestion levels at U.S West Coast ports, have… Continue reading
According to multiple media outlets, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) continues to consider a call by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to engage a federal mediator in the parties’ ongoing contract negotiations. Initially, union leadership indicated that it would respond to the request by December 23, but it has since announced that more… Continue reading
As reported by multiple media outlets, the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) remains focused on ensuring that the process by which ocean carriers communicate and implement surcharges is “transparent and fair.” According to FMC Commissioner Michael Khouri, who spoke recently at a port productivity conference in Newark, NJ sponsored by the Journal of Commerce, the FMC… Continue reading
According to multiple media sources, carrier members of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) have agreed to suspend their focus on Congestion Surcharges that would impact shipments transitting U.S. West Coast ports. Instead, the group has chosen to emphasize a proposed General Rate Increase (GRI) of USD 1,000 per 40’ from all Asian origins to all… Continue reading
According to multiple media outlets, formal contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) have resumed for the first time since November 20. Experts posit that, if substantial progress is made between December 3 and December 15, when the ILWU caucus will convene in San Francisco, ILWU… Continue reading
According to multiple media outlets, carrier members of the Transpacific Stabilization Agreement (TSA) have elected to postpone a planned Congestion Surcharge on cargo bound for the U.S. West Coast until further notice. This is the second time in two weeks that the surcharge – widely announced as USD 1,000 per 40’ and slated for implementation… Continue reading
According to multiple media outlets, five (5) Transpacific carriers have revived plans to implement a Congestion Surcharge of USD 1,000 per 40’ container to ocean cargo arriving on the U.S. West Coast with a gate-in date of November 26 or later. While the affected carriers – CMA, Hanjin, Maersk, MSC and Zim – have announced… Continue reading