Longshoreman’s Union Walks Off Job at West Coast Ports

More than 25,000 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union walked off the job at 29 West Coast ports Thursday, in a protest over the war in Iraq.

The show of force by the union came two months before the contract expires between the dockworkers, represented by union, and the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents port operators and large shippers, the Los Angeles Times reported.

PMA said in a statement the work stoppage brought “cargo operations to a virtual standstill.”

The walkout included the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, the nation’s largest port complex. At the Port of Los Angeles Thursday, though, there were no anti-war activities or protesters, the Times reported.

ILWU President Bob McEllrath said the workers were “standing down on the job and standing up for America.”

The contract between the two sides expires July 1 and the two sides are negotiating a new deal. A 10-day lockout over the last round of negotiations snarled cargo movements for several weeks in 2002.