Dockworkers Strike Averted At Pacific Northwest Ports

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Dockworkers Strike Averted At Pacific Northwest Ports

Reuters | Posted: 12/27/2012 10:07 am EST

* Grain shippers declare impasse in stalled contract talks

* Companies move to unilaterally impose terms of "final" offer

* Dockworkers union says members will stay on the job for now

By Laura L. Myers

SEATTLE, Dec 26 (Reuters) - The threat of imminent labor unrest at four U.S. Pacific Northwest ports was averted on Wednesday as the dockworkers union said its members would stay on the job despite "substandard" contract terms being imposed unilaterally by grain shippers.

Both sides in the stalemate left open the door to further negotiations. A spokesman for the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service told Reuters the agency was in contact on Wednesday with the parties.

The shipping companies declared a formal impasse in stalled contract talks with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) days after nearly 3,000 rank-and-file union members voted overwhelmingly to reject management's "last, best and final" offer.

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Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/27/dockworkers-strike-averted-northwest-ports_n_2369983.html

[pinto]

1. (side question) The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service -

Are they basically facilitators or do they have some functional leverage power in labor disputes?

[patrice]

2. "It is the awareness of unfilfilled desires which give a nation the feeling that it has a mission &

a destiny." Eric Hoffer

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/e/eric_hoffer.html

[Wellstone ruled]

3. Mediators will vary

from area to area,Midwest Mediators tend to favor fairness issues. Western Mediators are a toss-up,it's anybody's guess. Of course the Southern ones are a big time joke. Got to remember who owns these Ports,Goldman-Sachs,Dubai Government and Halliburton. It's all about busting the Unions guys.

[Sherman A1]

4. Indeed

and it is all about busting unions.