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International Shipping
US west coast dock talks begin with positive spin on automation
Date:2022-05-13 Readers:
THE Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), the employer bargaining unit that has commenced contract talks with the west coast dockers union, has since released a study that says waterfront automation is a "win-win" for labour and management alike, reports the American Journal of Transportation.

"The gains in automation output in Los Angeles and Long Beach mean that contrary to fears of job losses, automation has increased, not reduced jobs and work opportunities, including training and upskilling," said PMA president and CEO Jim McKenna.

"Automation is offering early proof of a win-win strategy: work gains for union members and productivity and efficiency gains that will drive up growth, drive down cargo-handling costs, and help restore the San Pedro Bay ports' competitive advantage," he told a press conference.

"Failing to adapt threatens to drive cargo to other ports, with a cascading loss of jobs on the docks and throughout the regional economy," said Mr McKenna.

But Frank Ponce De Leon spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, didn't see it that way.

"It's apparent that the report is a self-serving document by one party to a labour contract, and even worse is an insult to all workers who have seen their jobs outsourced to machines," Mr De Leon said.

Mr McKenna countered: "Automation is offering early proof of a win-win strategy: work gains for ILWU members and productivity and efficiency gains that will drive up growth, drive down cargo-handling costs, and help restore the San Pedro Bay ports' competitive advantage."

The study, he said, found that container throughput at two San Pedro Bay automated terminals is 44 per cent higher per acre compared to the terminals with conventional operations and that automated machinery can stack containers higher, closer together, and more efficiently for transfer to trucks or trains.

Finally, the report found that did not result in a job loss: "The gains in automation output in Los Angeles and Long Beach mean that contrary to fears of job losses, automation has increased, not reduced, ILWU jobs and work opportunities, including training and upskilling."

As to the future of this year's labour talks, Mr McKenna said: "Obviously we're going to have some challenging issues in front of us. Hours and wages and working conditions are going to be front and centre. As far as anything else - that's for the [negotiating] table. Right before a mid-term election there's a lot of focus by everybody and we all realise that. We have to get to the table and get an agreement without any further disruption."

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