West Coast Negotiators Reach Chassis Deal
The issue of chassis maintenance and repair was resolved in talks between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association.
PMA spokesman Wade Gates told TT that “a tentative agreement was reached on the chassis topic, and we are hopeful that this will allow us to move toward conclusion of an agreement in the near term.”
Chassis maintenance and repair jurisdiction has been a key issue in port talks as ocean carriers have moved away from providing chassis to truckers, and leasing companies have taken up the slack. Union workers traditionally have done all repair and maintenance work on chassis.
No details on the chassis-related agreement were released.
The union declined to comment.
The announcement comes more than eight months after talks began and three weeks after the entrance of a federal mediator. The parties’ contract expired on June 30.
PMA, which represents terminal operators and ocean carriers, has battled for months over responsibility for cargo delays that the companies say have increased in recent weeks.
The chassis agreement is the second step forward for the parties, which last year reached an agreement on health and welfare costs that are slated to rise in 2018 as a result of the Affordable Care Act.
