Labor Meeting Halts Work at Port of Oakland Marine Terminals

No gate, yard or vessel operations during the day shift

Oakland, Calif. - Feb. 19, 2015 - Port of Oakland marine terminal operations halted today as longshore workers took the day off for a union meeting. That means no gate, yard or vessel work on the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift, the Port said. Vessel operations will stop on the evening shift as well under a month-old suspension of nighttime activity by terminal operators.

The decision not to work comes in the ninth month of contract negotiations between dockworkers and terminal operators at 29 West Coast ports. Full operations are expected to resume at the Port tomorrow, Feb. 20.

"The decision not to work is damaging to shippers who rely on the Port of Oakland to move their cargo, and to the thousands of people who depend on the Port for their livelihood," said Port Maritime Director John Driscoll. "Disruptions such as this one cripple our ability to support global trade and the economy of the Bay Area."

According to reports, the longshore union is taking the day off to conduct a monthly meeting. The meetings, known as "stop-work" meetings, have long been part of labor-management contracts at West Coast ports. Traditionally, however, those meetings have been held at night. Today's day-shift meeting coincides with the Port's peak period of activity.

The work stoppage means containers will not be loaded or unloaded on the 12 vessels at berth. It also precludes the release of import containers or acceptance of exports for overseas shipment.

About the Port of Oakland:
The Port of Oakland oversees the Oakland seaport and Oakland International Airport. The Port's jurisdiction includes 20 miles of waterfront from the Bay Bridge through Oakland International Airport. The Oakland seaport is the fifth busiest container port in the U.S.; Oakland International Airport is the second largest San Francisco Bay Area airport offering over 300 daily passenger and cargo flights; and the Port's real estate includes commercial developments such as Jack London Square and hundreds of acres of public parks and conservation areas. Together, through Port operations and those of its tenants and users, the Port supports more than 73,000 jobs in the region and nearly 827,000 jobs across the United States. The Port of Oakland was established in 1927 and is an independent department of the City of Oakland. Connect with the Port of Oakland and Oakland International Airport through Facebook, or with the Port on Twitter, YouTube, and at www.portofoakland.com.