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Amid contentious West Coast contract talks, Oakland dockworkers took the day off Thursday for a monthly union meeting that has traditionally been held at night.
No workers showed up for the 8 a.m.-5 p.m. shift at the Oakland port on Thursday, and the ensuing shutdown prevented import containers from being moved from 12 waiting ships onto trucks or rail.
The 28 other West Coast ports stayed open Thursday.
"The decision not to work is damaging to shippers who rely on the Port of Oakland to move their cargo, and to the thousands of people who depend on the port for their livelihood," said John Driscoll, the port’s
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maritime director. "Disruptions such as this one cripple our ability to support global trade and the economy of the Bay Area."
Port officials said the meeting was deliberately held during work hours, seemingly in an apparent attempt to punish the Pacific Maritime Association, which has cut night operations, weekend and holiday work to avoid paying overtime to longshore workers.
Union insiders, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of a federal information blackout, said the terminal operators were notified about the day meeting on Feb. 3, giving them plenty of time to prepare.
For more of the SF Gate story: www.sfgate.com
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