Issue link: https://pma.uberflip.com/i/1355890
These measures included: routine cleaning of all frequently touched surfaces; providing disposable disinfectant wipes on the terminals; sanitizing shuttle buses; and reducing the number of people inside the dispatch halls by opening a third hall. In another act of cooperation, the ILWU and PMA agreed to clean terminal equipment after each use. West Coast ports also adjusted night shift hours to accommodate the daily cleaning of cargo-handling equipment, with terminal operators at the San Pedro Bay, Oakland, and Seattle port complexes pushing back night shift start times by one hour. PMA also set up a pair of separate portals to help ILWU members impacted by COVID-19. One portal established a system through which members could self-report symptoms to protect their fellow workers. The other facilitated pay for workers who fell ill, had to take time off to quarantine, or care for family members. Both platforms helped West Coast ports adapt amid extraordinary circumstances. Pushing for Vaccine Priority In December, PMA President and CEO Jim McKenna and ILWU International President William Adams co-authored letters to the governors of California, Oregon, and Washington urging them to protect dockworkers from COVID-19. Noting that ILWU members worked continuously through the pandemic, the leaders asked the governors to give longshore workers "an appropriate level of priority for receiving the vaccine." We also worked together to activate members of Congress, the mayors of Los Angeles and Long Beach, city councilmembers, and state officials to urge for vaccine priority – an issue that grew in importance as COVID cases among the ILWU ranks increased. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting state legislation to prioritize vaccines for essential port workers. According to the resolution, "the health and safety of waterfront workers is crucial for the continued recovery from the economic devastation wrought by the global pandemic." Demonstrating Flexibility In the initial months following Grand Princess' arrival in the Bay Area, imports dropped precipitously due to closed down factories in Asia. The PMA worked with the ILWU to allocate work opportunities. The cargo situation shifted dramatically with a huge cargo surge in Q3 that ultimately was sustained throughout the rest of 2020, and into 2021. At the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, for example, third- and fourth-quarter cargo volumes jumped 50% over the first half of 2020, which caused enormous pressure on terminals and the entire supply chain. The longshore workers did incredible work, moving record amounts of cargo as COVID-19 cases grew among the membership. In Closing In 2020, we demonstrated that West Coast ports can achieve great feats. We not only have tremendous infrastructure advantages, supply chain connectivity, and close proximity to the world's leading exporters, but we have resilience and the ability to work as a team in the face of great challenge. These characteristics proved vital to the nation and to the customers who have come to rely on West Coast ports to deliver. 2020 | THE YEAR IN REVIEW A longshore worker signals to a driver where to position the container for lifting at YTI Terminal at the Port of Los Angeles. PMA HONORS THE MEMORY OF WEST COAST MARITIME WORKERS WHO LOST THEIR LIVES TO COVID-19 IN 2020. 15 15 PACIFIC MARITIME ASSOCIATION