Protesters picket another Zim vessel in Oakland

Protesters picket another Zim vessel in Oakland
http://www.joc.com/port-news/us-ports/protesters-picket-another-zim-vess...

Bill Mongelluzzo, Senior Editor | Sep 27, 2014 1:23PM EDT

About 40 anti-Israel protesters picketed the vessel Zim Shanghai Saturday morning at the Port of Oakland. The vessel was not worked during the day shift.

Port of Oakland spokesman Roberto Bernardo said no other vessels at the port were affected by the picketing.

In fact, the demonstrators did not block access to Zim vessel at the Oakland International Container Terminal, either. “Labor was able to enter the terminal to report to work, however, labor was insufficient to successfully work the vessel,” he said.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union has been working without a contract since the previous contract expired on July 1. While that means that the no-strike clause in the waterfront contract is not in effect, and the union is free to honor any waterfront picket lines, there have been no major work stoppages on the West Coast the past three months.

Negotiations between the ILWU and the Pacific Maritime Association on a coast-wide contract are on-going in San Francisco. The PMA and ILWU reported last month that they had reached tentative agreement on the medical benefits portion of the contract, which is considered an important accomplishment.

Demonstrators who are sympathetic toward the Palestinian causes in Gaza had picketed another Zim vessel in August, and that ship eventually left Oakland without being worked.

The night shift at the port begins at 5 p.m. Protesters said they intend to return for that shift tonight.

Contact Bill Mongelluzzo at bmongelluzzo@joc.com and follow him on Twitter: @billmongelluzzo