N.Y.-N.J. employers, longshoremen in deal

N.Y.-N.J. employers, longshoremen in deal    An employer group said an agreement with New York and New Jersey locals of the International Longshoremen’s Association representing lashers and maintenance workers would result in higher lasher costs for larger containerships and strengthen the union’s work jurisdiction.
   A statement from J. Randolph Brown, president of the employer group, the Metropolitan Marine Maintenance Contractors Association (Metro), said the agreement with Locals 1814 and 1804-1 will extend a the contract through the end of 2012. Brown said negotiating committees will recommend the extension agreement be ratified.
   “The most difficult of the issues involved lasher manning on container vessels with more than 1,500 moves. Unfortunately, the agreement reached will involve an increase in lashing costs for these larger vessels. The exact details are being worked out by the lashing contractors,” Brown said in a statement.
   “Lasher manning will remain the same on vessels with 1,500 or fewer moves. The latter currently covers approximately 75 percent of the container vessels calling the Port of New York and New Jersey,” Brown said.
   The base wage for all Metro-ILA workers will increase $1 per hour on Jan. 1, 2012 under the contract extension.
   Metro said the language in the contract strengthening the union’s “historic work jurisdiction” would provide “for the inspection of all chassis to insure that only roadworthy equipment is released from the terminals and depots.”
   The National Labor Relations Board said Monday an unfair labor practice complaint filed by employers against the union earlier this year has been withdrawn. The employers had said they had reached an agreement with the union, but complained to the NLRB that the union refused to execute a memorandum of agreement and bargain in good faith.