Pacific Maritime Association

THE YEAR IN REVIEW Yet by 2012, container volume crept back to near pre-recession levels, 2012, container volume crept Yet by and staffing reflected that increase. In pre-recession levels, back to near2012, the number of Class A longshore registrants, for and staffing reflected that increase. example, exceeded 10,000 for the In 2012, the number of Class A first time registrants, for hours longshorein history. Total example, paid to registeredfor the first time exceeded 10,000 workers coastwide increased in 2012. And total in history. Total hours paid to regisshoreside payroll exceeded $1.5 tered workers coast-wide increased billion inAnd total shoreside payroll in 2012. 2012, nearly a 50 percent increase since the historic 2002 exceeded $1.5 billion in 2012, nearly agreement was reached. a 50 percent increase since the historic 2002 agreement was reached. ILWU workforce growth stands in starkworkforceto national trends ILWU contrast growth stands in for organized labor. In 2012, an stark contrast to national trends estimated 400,000 union jobsan for organized labor. In 2012, were lost in the 400,000 union jobs were estimated U.S. despite the creation of 2.45the U.S. jobs throughout the lost in million despite the creation nation. million jobs throughout the of 2.45 nation. Competition on Competition on the Horizon the Horizonanything in this If we���ve learned dynamiclearned anything economy, If we���ve and challenging in this it���s that and challenging economy, dynamic innovation is critical to maintain the West Coast���s standing in an increasingly competitive maritime trade environment, especially when considering the opening it���s that innovation is critical toof the expandedWest Coast���s standing maintain the Panama Canal by 2015.increasingly competitive marin an The canal will double in size and be environment, especially itime trade able to accommodate today���s large cargothe opening of the when considering ships, enabling them to sail from Asia directly to expanded Panama Canal by 2015. ports on the East Coast.size and be The canal will double in able tothe canal���s potential to large Given accommodate today���s cargo ships, enabling them toit is impact global trade patterns, sail from Asia important for Southern especially directly to ports on the East Coast. California ports to be seen as reliable and efficient. That is why Given the canal���s potential to impact another major conflict ��� especially global trade patterns, it is between the Office for Southern California important Clerical Unit (OCU) and Harborseen as reliable and effiports to be Employers Association (HEA) ��� was so unwelcome. cient. That is why another major conflict ��� between the Office HEA /Unit (OCU) and Harbor Clerical OCU Conflict Employers Association (HEA) ��� Late in 2012, the 600+ members was so unwelcome. of the OCU staged a seven-day strike, and shut down much of HEA / OCU Conflict the Southern California port complex. After more than two Late in 2012, the 600+ members years OCU staged a seven-day of theof unsuccessful negotiations, this conflict threatened to erode strike, and shut down much of the stellar reputation these ports have attained in the last decade. Although they were not direct parties to the talks, PMA and the Southern California port ILWU sought more than two complex. Afterto resolve the conflict unsuccessful negotiations, years of via merger discussions. As of the writing of this to erode this conflict threatened report, an agreement between the ports the stellar reputation these parties had just beenlast decade. have attained in the ratified. Although they were not direct Challenges Lie Ahead parties to the talks, PMA and ILWU sought to resolve the Larger and more productive conflict viaenvironmental best terminals, merger discussions. As of the and relative labor peace practices writing of this report, an agreement between the between the PMA and ILWU have parties had hallmarks that have been recentjust been ratified. helped set a strong, long-term Challengesport competifoundation for Lie Ahead tiveness, job creation and market Larger and more productive share. But as the fight for cargo terminals, environmental best becomes more fierce, the PMA and practices and relative labor peace ILWU will need to work even more between the PMA and ILWU have cooperatively and efficiently. been recent hallmarks that have helped set a strong, our focus must On the West Coast, long-term foundation for port competibe on enhancing the West Coast tiveness, job creation and market ports��� long-term competitiveness. share. But best way to protect That���s the as the fight for cargo becomes economic growth in the jobs and more fierce, the PMA and ILWU will need to work even more regions where we do business. PACIFIC MARITIME ASSOCIATION 29

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