longshoremen may call for strike at eastern ports

[robert]

the international longshoremens union may strike east coast ports late september. we had better be prepared to go for a week or more without work. i for one will not go into the port during this time because it will be one hell of a mess with port officials trying to operate equipment. if you think lines are bad now just wait until the idiot supervisors try running the port with scab workers. no thanks-i am saving my money up now and looking for other work to do while this happens. after the fact there will be a lot more money available for truckers to move the boxes because the shippers will be desperate to move all the stranded christmas freight. don't let your trucking company sh^t you out of extra funds they will be collecting from their customers to move the jammed up boxes!!!!!!!!!

[jp3]

i talked to a couple of the dock workers today,, they said make no mistake we will walk when contract expires on sept 30 so better keep up on what is going on. i won't come to port with my truck if this happens. i don't care what the company tells us to do. screw them and the port officials. you are right the lines will be miles long with fools trying to get a box or a load. no thanks, i will stay home go fishing or find other work at end of the month.

[Old Timer]

Thats right none of you were around in 77 when we supported the union and walked out. Then they got their new contract and left us in the dust. They don't give a d**n about truck drivers you see it everyday in that port. But now they need you so the story starts again support us and we sill help you, well remember this they aren't negotiating rates they are asking for more money for them and when they get it you will once again be an after thought. So do what you will but if you choose to back those losers who crap on you everyday by not getting in any hurry to get you out play grab ass instead of fixing trucks sit and watch while one guy works and oh my favorite don't work in the rain because they might get wet. You go right ahead, I wish the Port would just hire new guys the seciond they walked out for half the money and then we could get rate increases. If they get another raise then guess where that money will come from your hide. THis Union does not give a rats ass about you.

[twistlock]

I don't care what the longshoremen do. As for me I won't be coming down there to load my flat unless the customer wants to pay a lot of detention. The port will be nothing more than a giant cluster f%$k for all. I can only imagine what you guys pulling containers will have to go through if you try move boxes. lol

[ctruck]

this is why i will not be working if there is ila strike.
#1 like u say driver long lines with no extra pay.
#2 i have to work with those guys each day they will see who goes in port so not me crossing there line.
#3 truck is payed for so not a problem.
#4 will be plenty work when over and shippers will pay more bucks to move backlog of freight.
#5 not the first time around this block.

[Bill]

All good points guys. The union doesn't give a sh*t about any of us. Now it's a toss up between them the port or the trucking companies. I know you can't believe the trucking companies or the port gives a sh*t. C'mon-in reality we have no friends in this fight. We know none of them give a sh*t about what happens to us. They didn't before today. This is not anything new. I have no loyalty to any of them so this makes for an easy decision. If the ILA strikes, I park until the d**n mess is over. Maybe I'll go fishing with rest of you or sell pumpkins.

[ilovdieselsmoke]

Yep, it's gonna get interesting down here in GA/SC too!


Virginia Prepares for Possible ILA Strike
Joseph Bonney, Senior Editor | Aug 31, 2012 4:22PM GMT
The Journal of Commerce Online - News Story


Port officials to convene meeting next week to discuss contingency plans

The Virginia Port Authority said it and the VPA’s operating company, Virginia International Terminals, have begun preparing the Hampton Roads port for a possible strike when the International Longshoremen’s Association contract expires Sept. 30.

Negotiations on a coastwide master contract between the ILA and United States Maritime Alliance broke down Aug. 22. No new talks have been scheduled, and ILA President Harold Daggett said last week that a strike appeared likely.

Virginia officials said their strike planning focuses on moving “as much cargo as reasonably possible” through port terminals before the contract expires. VPA and VIT officials have begun weekly conference calls with cargo owners to work out plans.

“Our goal will be to do everything we can to ensure that all cargo is delivered prior to Oct. 1,” said Joseph A. Dorto, VIT’s president and CEO. “When we resume operations, VIT will do all possible to ensure our customers are taken care of in a timely and efficient manner. The goal is to maintain a high level of service to our customers so that there is minimal disruption to their business.

“We believe our customers will immediately make plans to shift a portion of their cargo to West Coast ports — from 10 to 15 percent,” Dorto said. “The effect of this will not be felt here until October as cargo on the water today will still move to Virginia.”

Next week the VPA and VIT will convene a meeting to discuss what will happen during and after an ILA strike. Meeting participants will include labor, ocean carriers, the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, operations personnel, motor carriers, harbor pilots and tug companies.

Planning discussing will include extending terminal gate hours, working with railroads to schedule trains and hours of operation, developing an informational hotline to be put in place during a strike, and a plan for using the VPA’s multiple messaging platforms to disseminate up-to-date information.

[t beasley]

i dont care what dockers do. this is opertunity for us to stck it to the rats who screw us out of our money every week. dont pull jack for a month. let their holiday crap sit on the docks. thousands of containers tied up til christmas.

[terri]

if this happens there will be a bunch of steering wheel holders walking away from trucks. repo joe is gonna be pretty busy picking up all the scrap iron out in the country. maybe rates will go up until the christmas jam is cleaned up. this could be a good thing.

[oboy@ivorva]

I see some of these harbor trucking companies making a fat profit off this. Problem is they don't like sharing with the ones who pay for the fuel or deliver the load

[mark463]

this is really going to happen guys. can't believe it. i will park my truck sept 30. preparing now stuffing every dime i can in bank until that time. u guys better take this seriously. no joke. it's crunch time especially if u ave a family. i am going to make two truck payments now while i have money to do it. no way am i going to go to port and get my crap screwed up or sit in lines for hrs on end. the trucking company will jus ave to find another fool or fools but i bet after first load they won't be able to find anyone to do it.lol ;D