Despite reports to the contrary, ILWU and PMA are ‘meeting and making progress’

In an article called ”West Coast shippers accuse dockworkers of slowing talks,” Bloomberg reports:

West Coast shippers embroiled in contract negotiations with dockworkers accused the longshoremen of delaying “big table” talks, while the union said smaller-group discussions are still productive.

Bargaining through Dec. 1 will be confined to subcommittees “discussing limited issues,” as officials of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union take a break for the Thanksgiving holiday, said the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents management.

“We’re both meeting and both making progress,” ILWU spokesman Craig Merrilees said in a telephone interview. “It’s not about how many people are in the room. It’s about work getting done and problems getting solved.”