US farm shippers stuck with west coast, cannot move out as others do
Time：2015-07-07
Browse：108
"We and the ILWU [International Alongshore and Warehouse Union] may be the only ones left," he said, referring to a trend to ship via Panama or Suez to reach the US east coast.
Speaking at the Act annual meeting in San Francisco, Mr Friedman complained that agricultural exporters were treated as "backhaul" by ocean carriers, terminals and ports in favour of higher priced import customers such as Wal-Mart.
Mr Friedman did note that the California ports have been working hard to reduce congestion and delays. Act applauded efforts by the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to include Act members in "stakeholder outreach initiatives" related to port service improvements.
Mr Friedman said that he was impressed by the willingness of the ILWU to pay for attendance at last year`s Act meeting so as to "sit and listen." When the ILWU paid to attend this year`s meeting, Mr Friedman decided to ask the union to participate in a panel discussion.
ILWU vice president Ray Familathe said the ILWU wants to make west coast ports more competitive, but noted that there must be collaboration between the ILWU, terminal managers and ocean carriers. Significantly, Mr Familathe noted, the PMA did not attend the AgTC event.
He noted that the PMA has authorised the hiring of additional longshore workers to ease congestion and that the ILWU is ready and willing to have the ports operate on a 24 hour a day basis, but the terminals must approve this.