Excerpts from Hellenic Shipping News:
A buildup of ships and cargo has led Port of Oakland terminal operators to begin hiring 400 new dockworkers, port officials said.In addition to adding workers, they agreed to train and promote 100 current workers. That will expand the workforce available to fill positions requiring greater skill and experience.
The first of the new hires are arriving this week and more will be brought in through September, port officials said in a news release.
Port representatives said waterfront employers and the longshore union agreed last month to beef up Oakland’s labor pool.
The hires are the result of a steady, three-month increase in container cargo over the same time last year, with some anchored “in the bay two days waiting for short-staffed terminals to clear vessels from berths,” according to the news release.
Also, port officials say, more auto carriers and cruise ships are coming into the bay, further straining the supply of dockworkers.
