News from Congresswoman Jane Harman

Congresswoman Jane harman - Press Release

August 16, 2002

Harman Urges Bush To Keep "Hands Off" Port Negotiations

SAN PEDRO -- U.S. Congresswoman Jane Harman (D-Redondo Beach) today urged President Bush to let port contract negotiations continue without a threat of federal intervention.

At a State legislative hearing convened near the Port of Los Angeles, Harman said "both the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association have a legal right to bargain - aided perhaps by the helpful suggestions of interested parties, but certainly without interference and the threat of a "gun being put to their heads."

"I strongly urge the Administration to allow the ILWU and PMA to settle their differences without the threat of federal intervention."

Harman's comments came in response to recent news reports that the Bush Administration is prepared to intervene and force the parties to reach an agreement. Harman was testifying at a joint legislative hearing, 'The Impact of Federal Intervention on California Port Labor Negotiations,' held in Wilmington, Ca.

"To be sure, the issues are not easy ones to resolve," Harman said. "Their resolution will take time and I commend both sides for continuing their efforts to forge an agreement." Harman noted that it is a complex contract, covering more than 16,000 working men and women at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington. The contract represents almost 70 years of effective - but occasionally contentious -- negotiations between port operators, shippers, and the union representing port workers.

Harman also acknowledged the importance of shipping goods through the Port of Los Angeles. The Port is one of the world's largest trade gateways and the scope of its economic contributions to the regional economy is far-reaching. It is connected directly and indirectly with tens of billions of dollars in industry sales each year in the Southern California region.

"Those sales translate into hundreds of thousands of local jobs and billions of dollars in wages, salaries, and state and local taxes," said Harman. "Indeed, it is estimated that $1 of every $23 of wages and salaries in Southern California is associated with the movement of goods through the Port of LA.

"And the trend is still upward. Last year, the Port of LA handled more than 5.1 million cargo containers. This year, more than 2.8 million containers have been shipped through the Port, a rate almost 19 percent ahead of last year's pace.

"It is an economic engine we must protect. And, as importantly, it produces benefits in which we all can share."

Harman said that she has suggested both labor and management "look to the promise of the future - where concessions and compromises by both can lead to the development of the most modern and efficient Port on the West Coast - which in turn will ensure our share of the volume of trade projected for the next decade and more."

"We need to be reminded that trade is discretionary and ports elsewhere in the hemisphere are prepared to accept what we turn away."

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