The Journal of Commerce reports on the ups and downs of negotiations between ILWU Clerical Workers and the employer:
July 31, 2012, 2:02 AM:
Two-hours of discussions Monday end on sour note, with no new talks planned
Contract negotiations between office clerical workers and the attorney representing waterfront employers in Los Angeles-Long Beach resumed Monday morning after a two-week hiatus, but ended on a sour note two hours later, with no new talks planned.
The 600 office workers in Southern California have been working without a contract since June 2010, and negotiations have been held only sporadically and for short durations since then.
Employers are concerned the OCU will erect picket lines. Their concern results from a ruling in April that ILWU dockworkers will not violate their contract if they refuse to cross picket lines posted by the OCU.
July 31, 2012 4:48 PM:
Parties soften rhetoric, restart talks
Waterfront employers and office clerical workers in Southern California softened the tone of their rhetoric Tuesday and agreed to resume contract negotiations at 10 a.m. Pacific time.
Both sides apparently had a change of heart overnight. Stephen Berry, who represents the employers, confirmed that talks would resume Tuesday morning, and he said he hopes “something positive” will result.
OCU President John Fageaux could not be reached, but he has stated previously that the OCU is seeking a wage increase in the low single digits. The union’s demands focus mostly on job preservation and ensuring that employers don’t use technology to transfer the work they do to non-union workers in other states or overseas.