Issue link: https://pma.uberflip.com/i/1355890
COVID-19: ADDRESSING A ONCE-IN- A-CENTURY CHALLENGE Nearly a year to the day of this publication, the eyes of the world were on the Bay Area as the Grand Princess cruise ship arrived at the Port of Oakland – transporting some of the nation's earliest known COVID-19 patients. At that time, longshore workers were deemed "essential" for good reason: the work of our ports is a national economic imperative, supporting millions of jobs, billions of dollars in economic activity, and delivering food and other products that are vital in meeting the needs of American businesses and households. Taking Action to Protect Workers From the government's stay-at-home orders that followed later in March of 2020, the PMA and ILWU worked together to implement proactive measures designed to help keep West Coast dockworkers safe from the coronavirus while meeting the once- in-a-generation cargo surge that began in Q3 and sustained throughout the year and into 2021. In February 2020, the PMA issued an initial safety bulletin outlining the symptoms of COVID-19 and recommended precautionary measures. This bulletin provided early-stage information about the coronavirus in China, as well as guidance for vessels and marine terminals to prevent COVID-19 infections. By late March, the PMA and ILWU created protocols for handling suspected and known COVID-19 cases. These included processes to identify the individual but protect their privacy; determining where they worked and whom they may have come into contact with while infected; and requiring that infected workers adhere to federal and state guidelines for returning to work. In the same month, PMA and ILWU launched a contactless dispatch system for members of various locals in Southern California. In addition, PMA, its members, and the ports procured and distributed hundreds of thousands of units of personal protective equipment to ILWU members. Keeping Operations Smooth To keep operations flowing smoothly, the PMA took action consistent with and beyond guidelines outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CMA CGM donates 200,000 face masks to the Port of Los Angeles. 14 14 2020 ANNUAL REPORT