Long Beach, Los Angeles Port Clerks Drop Picket Lines
Long Beach, Los Angeles Port Clerks Drop Picket Lines
http://cbs2.com/local/SoCal.port.clerks.2.1800434.html
ul 12, 2010 3:07 pm US/Pacific
Long Beach, L.A. Port Clerks Drop Picket Lines
LOS ANGELES (AP) ―
Clerical workers have returned to work after striking for 11 days at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
A spokesman for the International Longshore Warehouse Union says the workers returned to work at five shipping terminals Monday. Craig Merrilees said the union local dropped its picket lines on Sunday.
Arbitrators have twice ruled the strike was "not bona fide" because the union was negotiating in bad faith. Merrilees says that made it impossible for the more than 10,000 longshoremen at the ports to respect the picket lines.
Stephen Berry, who represents 14 shipping companies negotiating new contracts with the clerks, says he is wary about allowing the clerks to return to work without a settlement.
Negotiations are continuing.