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Union WALKOUT cripples port of Los Angeles and Long Beach !

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NewHampshire Black Bears

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http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ports-walkout-20121129,0,4419668.story

While I 'think' this issue with the POWERFUL..I L W U..will get resolved, the Port operators better PRAY that they don't get Extra Stubborn, because these guys (ILWU) "DO-NOT-PLAY" ! Some arbitrator, or someone else issued a back-to-work order, and this Great and POWERFUL union..told them to "RAM it in your ASSS" !!

These friggin' guys are truly the "LAST of the MOHICANS" of US Organized Labor.
GOD Bless them !

I hope the weak little PUSSY's At American (TWU) are watching a REAL UNION in action.
These ILWU guys are HONORING Pickets lines over a relatively small Issue
 
You do realize that the sun may be setting on the ILWU?...

Once the Panama Canal widening project is done, the importance of the west coast ports will plummet. Container ships from Asia will be able to head into the Gulf of Mexico, where labor costs are significantly cheaper. Some existing ports are already deep-dredging to make room for the mega-ships, and there's a new port under consideration (http://www.stmarynow.com/view/full_story/20823718/article-Offshore-container-port-studied-for-St--Mary-Parish?instance=secondary_stories_left_column).

When the wide lanes in the canal open in 2014, it's possible you'll see a reversal of traffic flows -- right now it is predominantly full eastbound, empties west. That will shift to empties east, full west, particularly coming out of Houston and Louisiana.
 
If I remember correctly, the last of the Mohicans watched it all fall off the cliff.
 
eolesen said:
You do realize that the sun may be setting on the ILWU?...

Once the Panama Canal widening project is done, the importance of the west coast ports will plummet. Container ships from Asia will be able to head into the Gulf of Mexico, where labor costs are significantly cheaper. Some existing ports are already deep-dredging to make room for the mega-ships, and there's a new port under consideration (http://www.stmarynow.com/view/full_story/20823718/article-Offshore-container-port-studied-for-St--Mary-Parish?instance=secondary_stories_left_column).

When the wide lanes in the canal open in 2014, it's possible you'll see a reversal of traffic flows -- right now it is predominantly full eastbound, empties west. That will shift to empties east, full west, particularly coming out of Houston and Louisiana.
Click to expand...

'Some' truth to that, however with the insta-connect with rail especially in Seattle, Nothing from Asia gets to the rail-head in Chicago faster, for Cargo bound for the Mega city area's in the NE.
But don't believe me,.....THINK about Why the 'Oracle of Omaha" bought BNSF which came with the 'High-Line'.

It still takes TIME to steam down and thru the canal, then back up to IAH/MSY.
Cheaper costs you say ?
The Longshoremen of the ILA (from Maine to the Gulf ports) are not the usual "the Boss is always right" wimps like the rest of the South, and the last time I checked, folks at UP and BNSF get the exact same money down there, similiar to SEA or LGB !!!!!!!!!!!!
 
One of the things I do like about the Longeshoreman is they have created an image (real or imagined) that you just don't mess with them. In the end the free market always wins and we shall see who is right.

I always believed if you're going to have a union then have one that goes balls to the wall over everything. Ride the gravy train until there isn't any more gravy. Just so long as you realize it might not last as long as you might like.
 
You don't pull on Superman's cape and you don't mess with Jim. Thanks to the world markets created by Reagan and Clinton(a conservative and a freakin' liberal), you come to the realization that you are replaceable by cheaper labor.

Welcome to the jungle.
 
SparrowHawk said:
One of the things I do like about the Longeshoreman is they have created an image (real or imagined) that you just don't mess with them. In the end the free market always wins and we shall see who is right.

I always believed if you're going to have a union then have one that goes balls to the wall over everything. Ride the gravy train until there isn't any more gravy. Just so long as you realize it might not last as long as you might like.
Click to expand...

Yes...I suppose we should just accept that the gravy train has left the depot and we should all just work for crap wages and benefits. Let's get rid of the middle class...accept our place as the "doer's" for the "havers". The smug white collar guys who think it could never happen to them will watch as the REAL power says "screw you" and cuts the gravy to you even as you fight vigorously for their right to do so.
 
KCFlyer said:
Yes...I suppose we should just accept that the gravy train has left the depot and we should all just work for crap wages and benefits. Let's get rid of the middle class...accept our place as the "doer's" for the "havers". The smug white collar guys who think it could never happen to them will watch as the REAL power says "screw you" and cuts the gravy to you even as you fight vigorously for their right to do so.
Click to expand...

Not what I meant and you know it.

I'm a white collar guy and I never lost sight of the fact that a job flipping burgers has more security. Which is kind of my point. Janis Joplin said it best, "Get it while you can" and that's what I advocate. Frankly I don't give a fat rats arse in a cheese factoriy about how well the company does, just so long as I get mine. I don't go to work for the glory of Comglomo Corp. I go to work for me and those important to me.

There are economic forces at play that one day will render the Longshoremen impotent and many will lose out. If you work in that arena and you're 40 it's highly likely you will not be there after 55. My point was go out make all you can, have as little debt as possible and plan your finances as if your job will end tomorrow because it just might. IOW do it to them BEFORE they do it to you.
 
SparrowHawk said:
One of the things I do like about the Longeshoreman is they have created an image (real or imagined) that you just don't mess with them. In the end the free market always wins and we shall see who is right.

I always believed if you're going to have a union then have one that goes balls to the wall over everything. Ride the gravy train until there isn't any more gravy. Just so long as you realize it might not last as long as you might like.
Click to expand...

Sparrow,
Your RIGHT again, as you (so) often are.

TRUE Story. Your's truly (ME) actually worked as a 'casual' on the Boston Docks in the very early
'70's with the ILA (International Longshoremens Association) Union Workers. ( ILA = Maine to Texas docks, ILWU = San Diego to Alaska docks Including Canadian docks, Vancouver etc.)
These ILA guys, mostly Irish, were (the) Majority Drunk, Ex-Cons, HEL* EVEN one of the original BRINKS ROBBERS was down there ! These Guys..DO-NOT-PLAY. I've actually seen guys WALK OFF of a ship, in the middle of the day, because some forman with the shipping association, said the 'wrong thing' to the 'Gang Boss' ! (1 gang = 20 men)

ILA vs ILWU.

The ILA has been known over many years, to cut little side-deals with management, therefore violating thier own contract.
BUT,
The ILWU...NEVER violates thier contract...NEVER, posing potential HUGE problems for west coast shipping associations. Eolesen is correct to a small degree, in that 'some' shipping lines will take 'SEVERAL' days LONGER to reach Houston/New Orleans via a widened panama canal with the newer super-freighters, BUT the vast majority of the shipping lines will still steam towards the geographically CLOSEST port due to the enormous tight schedule the ship is on.
Whether we Ship more TO Asia, or receive More FROM Asia, ONLY ILWU Union members load/unload those Ships....."Period" !!!!!!!!!!!
 
SparrowHawk said:
Not what I meant and you know it.

I'm a white collar guy and I never lost sight of the fact that a job flipping burgers has more security. Which is kind of my point. Janis Joplin said it best, "Get it while you can" and that's what I advocate. Frankly I don't give a fat rats arse in a cheese factoriy about how well the company does, just so long as I get mine. I don't go to work for the glory of Comglomo Corp. I go to work for me and those important to me.

There are economic forces at play that one day will render the Longshoremen impotent and many will lose out. If you work in that arena and you're 40 it's highly likely you will not be there after 55. My point was go out make all you can, have as little debt as possible and plan your finances as if your job will end tomorrow because it just might. IOW do it to them BEFORE they do it to you.
Click to expand...

Correct again Sparrow.

To illustrate how smart the ILWU is,....In the last Big 10 day strike, in exchange for the Union embracing newer technology, the shipping associations.."Grandfathered" ALL members at that point in time, Jobs for LIFE.
As for future newer/faster automation, it's kind of a mute point because even the new Gigantic Super Freighters can still ONLY have 2 Cranes working the Ship. One Fore, the other Aft, so no real gain.
Another similiar Job For Life ? RailRoad Locomotive Engineers.
 
Again, that only applies in the ports that they work, Bears.

The new port in Louisiana? Ports in Houston? Right to work states.

And then there's the mega port in Mexico at Punta Colonet... It could handle 15M containers, and not coincidentally, Union Pacific has a 25% ownership stake in Ferromex, which is the railroad that would be serving Colonet and running from there to Yuma. Yuma sits on UPRR's southern transcon line, which by 2014 will be double tracked the entire way between LA, Yuma, and El Paso, where the lines branch out to San Antonio, Kansas City, and Houston.
 
" 10,000 members of the port of LA and Long Beach honor the smaller local's picket line "

" TEN - THOUSAND " 'Members' !!!!!!!!!!

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-ports-strike-continues-20121201,0,5021131.story

Q.
How do you spell..... "BALLS" ?

A.
.... " I L W U " ... ! ! !
 
NewHampshire Black Bears said:
Sparrow,
Your RIGHT again, as you (so) often are.

TRUE Story. Your's truly (ME) actually worked as a 'casual' on the Boston Docks in the very early
'70's with the ILA (International Longshoremens Association) Union Workers. ( ILA = Maine to Texas docks, ILWU = San Diego to Alaska docks Including Canadian docks, Vancouver etc.)
These ILA guys, mostly Irish, were (the) Majority Drunk, Ex-Cons, HEL* EVEN one of the original BRINKS ROBBERS was down there ! These Guys..DO-NOT-PLAY. I've actually seen guys WALK OFF of a ship, in the middle of the day, because some forman with the shipping association, said the 'wrong thing' to the 'Gang Boss' ! (1 gang = 20 men)

ILA vs ILWU.

The ILA has been known over many years, to cut little side-deals with management, therefore violating thier own contract.
BUT,
The ILWU...NEVER violates thier contract...NEVER, posing potential HUGE problems for west coast shipping associations. Eolesen is correct to a small degree, in that 'some' shipping lines will take 'SEVERAL' days LONGER to reach Houston/New Orleans via a widened panama canal with the newer super-freighters, BUT the vast majority of the shipping lines will still steam towards the geographically CLOSEST port due to the enormous tight schedule the ship is on.
Whether we Ship more TO Asia, or receive More FROM Asia, ONLY ILWU Union members load/unload those Ships....."Period" !!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

How true, but they start backing up the supply chain you get into some 'national security' issues.

Be a big photo op for Obama...then would be even funnier if union told him to screw off and he had to act presidential against a union.
 
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