Will U.S. Dockworkers Strike?

What a shock.  The ILWU (representing the U.S. West Coast) went on strike for 8 days in December.

They came to an agreement, but, low and behold., yesterday the members did not vote for the agreement.
What now?  

No one knows.  Will there be another strike in Los Angeles/Long Beach?

And then what about the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf ports?   The union reached a "tentative agreement", but
the contract (to my knowledge) expired Feb. 6.   So presumably they are working without a contract.

Today reports say they will continue negotiations and expect to conclude in March. ??

Perhaps the carriers don't get this, but it looks to me that the unions are in a very good spot
to really shut down the country.  What would happen if the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf port went
out on strike, as well as the Long Beach/Los Angeles port?

Somebody better ask for a contract extension for the U.S. East/Gulf Port until the new contract
is place.

ILA ReachesTentative Agreement

Looks as if there won't be a strike at the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf Ports.   The agreement is
not yet signed, but they are close.

Here's the press release

Friday, February 1, 2013 Contact: John Arnold
For Immediate Release Director of Public Affairs
Web site: www.fmcs.gov Phone: (202) 606-8100

Update on United States Maritime Alliance
And International Longshoremen’s Association
Labor Negotiations

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Director George H.
Cohen issued the following statement today on the labor negotiations between the United States
Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen’s Association:
“I am extremely pleased to announce that the parties have reached a tentative agreement for a
comprehensive successor Master Agreement. The tentative agreement is subject to the
ratification procedures of both parties and, as well, to agreements being achieved in a number of
local union negotiations. Those local negotiations are ongoing and will continue without
interruption to any port operation. Out of respect for the parties’ ratification processes, and
consistent with the Agency’s long-standing confidentiality policy, we will not disclose any
details concerning the substantive provisions that have been reached.”
“However, as the negotiations have been conducted under the auspices of the FMCS,
commencing last September and continuing to date, I can report that the tentative agreement
reflects the culmination of good faith negotiations in which the parties successfully
accommodated strongly held competing positions because of their commitment to problem
solving. Again, collective bargaining has proven its worth by avoiding a potential work stoppage
that would have had a severe negative impact on the nation’s economy.”
“On behalf of the FMCS, I want to especially convey my thanks to ILA President Harold
Daggett and USMX Chairman and CEO James Capo for their leadership, patience, and
persistence and to their respective hard-working negotiating committees. Finally, my colleagues
Deputy Director Scot Beckenbaugh, Director of Mediation Services Jack Sweeney, and
Commissioner Pete Donatello provided valuable assistance both to me and the parties throughout
this lengthy process.”
###
The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government
agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation.
Headquartered in