Executive predicts West Coast pact without stoppage

Executive predicts West Coast pact without stoppage Negotiations this year between steamship lines and West Coast unionized dockworkers will be “tough, challenging and time consuming,” a leading carrier executive predicted.
      However, Anthony A. Scioscia, senior vice president, labor relations at Maersk, expressed optimism a new contract between employers and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union would be reached without a labor disruption.
      He said ILWU President Bob McEllrath was a “tough unionist,” but he lavished praise on him and Jim McKenna, president of the Pacific Maritime Shipping Association. Scioscia said he believes they can reach a new agreement that would avoid a work stoppage such as the
2002 lockout that halted work at Pacific Coast docks for 10 days, and created a traffic snarl took about 100 days to clear up.
      Scioscia noted negotiations on the new contract would begin March 17. The current six-year contract between employers and the ILWU expires July 1.
      Scioscia made his remarks as he accepted the 2008 Transportation Person of the Year award from the Traffic Club of New York, at the group’s annual dinner.
      Attendees of the dinner were also addressed by Congressman Peter King, R-N.Y, who stressed the need to balance homeland security measures with procedures that would allow trade to move smoothly. ' Chris Dupin