[Tsuyoi]

Since it's a few days away from the threatened ILA port strike, figured we might as well get a thread going with updates and to help each other answer any questions we have.

From reading a few articles, the ILA's (union for US Longshoremen) contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (their employers/management) expires on December 30 at midnight. This contract applies to 14 ports along the east coast, from Boston to Houston. Management wants to cap extra payments made to longshoremen based on volume of cargo moved (currently these bonus payments are estimated to average $15,000 per year per employee, on top of average $100,000 wages and $20,000 benefits). The ILA wants the cap removed from the contract, as well as the lesser issue of improved benefits/insurance.

Negotiations have been going on since March, and the ILA has authorized a strike if no agreement is reached by the end of the contract.

The Longshoremen themselves are responsible only for the unloading of cargo from a ship to the port. However, the strike would also affect the warehouse, dock, and freight workers at the ports, as well as truck and railroad employees, retail chains, and small businesses who depend on the cargo for supply.

If the ILA does go on strike, Obama can under the Taft Hartley Act order them back to work, which would enforce another 80 day cool off period before they can resume the strike.


So what does all this mean for us?

1) Any ship that is passing through the East Coast (A.K.A every ship making deliveries to the US) will be delayed indefinitely by the strike (Even if you're on the west coast, these ships will have to stop on the East Coast first to load/unload additional cargo before moving on).

2) It is estimated that every 1 day of the strike will result in a 2-3 day delay in goods/services.

3) If the strike is prolonged, the ships may be forced to dock at Southern ports or even West Coast ports, then move the rest of the cargo by land (train/truck).

4) Under extreme conditions cargo ships may return to their port of origin without delivering their cargo.

5) Even if Obama does enforce the Taft Hartley act, once a strike does occur, even that 2-3 day delay will result in possibly 1-2 weeks delay in cargo delivery.

In short, if there is a strike, anyone expecting to take delivery of a car from a ship that docks on the US East Coast on Dec 30 or later (even if your port is on the West Coast) can expect a delay of a week up to potentially months.

YIKES!

[jagracer1986]

According to this article...they will keep unloading everything besides cargo containers including cars (hopefully that includes my 328i due on January 9th to the Port of Baltimore)

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/201...e-cruise-ships

[Tsuyoi]

Originally Posted by jagracer1986

According to this article...they will keep unloading everything besides cargo containers including cars (hopefully that includes my 328i due on January 9th to the Port of Baltimore)

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/201...e-cruise-ships

This is assuming your ship actually manages to dock on time. The problem is, if previous ships can't unload ALL their cargo, chances are they won't cast off their lines and move on. Which means later ships may not even have a slot at the dock. Plus, if management enforces a lockout, we're all doubly screwed.

[Kng87]

I believe car wont be effect by the strike since the car is not in a container . Car will still be unload normally

[Tsuyoi]

Originally Posted by Kng87

I believe car wont be effect by the strike since the car is not in a container . Car will still be unload normally

Refer to my above post. Doesn't matter how car is loaded if your ship can't dock due to a) a long ass queue in front of it or b) lockout by employers.

[Kng87]

we will c wat happen I believe everything will be fine for us cause all they do is unload the car everything else is on bmw vdc

[jagracer1986]

Originally Posted by Kng87

I believe car wont be effect by the strike since the car is not in a container . Car will still be unload normally

I believe the same thing...it docks where they only unload cars, thus no ships should be held up where our boats dock with containers. I not too concerned....

[BavarianFanatic]

Originally Posted by Tsuyoi

This is assuming your ship actually manages to dock on time. The problem is, if previous ships can't unload ALL their cargo, chances are they won't cast off their lines and move on. Which means later ships may not even have a slot at the dock. Plus, if management enforces a lockout, we're all doubly screwed.

Most ports have dedicated piers for vehicles. They don't share facilities with container traffic.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic

Most ports have dedicated piers for vehicles. They don't share facilities with container traffic.

Boy, do I hope this is true. Thanks for the helpful insight and updates guys.

[baylorfan05]

Great. Yet another thing to delay things from Soith Africa!

[Falafel Combo]

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/...8BR0ET20121228

[chrisny]

Thank God. I was more worried about the effect a strike would've had on the economy than any possible delay getting my car.

[jagracer1986]

Originally Posted by chrisny

Thank God. I was more worried about the effect a strike would've had on the economy than any possible delay getting my car.

Me too...my company imports a lot of stuff from Europe. If it was delayed and sales dropped my BMW would have been the least of my worries lol.