US West Coast ports will partially close this weekend due to a dispute between staff and bosses along the key trade frontline with Asia, officials said Friday. The Pacific Maritime Association, which represents employers, announced the suspension of loading and unloading of ships at 29 West Coast ports. Terminal operators can still move containers out of their yards, but the PMA announced the suspension after weeks of union work-to-rule, including in the major ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach and Oakland.
"After three months of union slowdowns, it makes no sense to pay extra for less work, especially if there is no end in sight to the union's actions which needlessly brought West Coast ports to the brink of gridlock," said PMA spokesman Wade Gates. Operations are scheduled to resume Monday. A spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, representing workers, criticised the "crazy and irresponsible" order.