CONFLICTS regarding the involvement of unionised dockers are expanding beyond the Port of Charleston, as highlighted by the leadership of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), reports New York's Journal of Commerce.
They assert that dockers are inadequately represented in supervisory roles at marine terminals along the east and Gulf coasts.
These localised disagreements unfold amid discussions about a coastwide master contract and coincides with the ILA's efforts to garner political support in anticipation of the upcoming 2024 election year.
Over the past two years, the ILA has contended that ocean carriers serving Charleston's new Leatherman terminal are violating the terms of the union's existing master contract by employing non-union state workers to operate cranes.
The ILA's capacity to legally challenge ocean carriers on this matter is currently under consideration by the US Supreme Court for a potential hearing.
The issues related to work jurisdiction, akin to those experienced in Charleston, are surfacing in other ports along the east and Gulf coasts, as ILA vice president Dennis Daggett explained during a meeting of union locals from southeast and Gulf coast ports.
The primary points of contention revolve around the supervision of dockers and the union's involvement in office work.
"Right now, we have jurisdictional or technology disputes in Boston, Virginia, Charleston, soon-to-be Savannah, Miami, New Orleans and Mobile," said Mr Dagget.
"The way it should go is that [marine terminal] management do the thinking, come up with a plan, and turn it over to a union foreman who takes it to the ILA rank-and-file to execute the plan. That's not happening."
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