Virginia port to provide ILA news

   The Virginia Port Authority (VPA) and Virginia International Terminals (VIT) said they have created a special Web page dedicated to helping disseminate up-to-date local information to stakeholders and the public in the event of an East Coast labor stoppage.
   The members of the International Longshoremen’s Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents employers, are negotiating a new contract to replace the one that expires at the end of the month.
   VPA said the page will go “live” today and will be accessed via a button on the lower left-hand side of the Website, titled “East Coast Labor Action.” It will be focused on helping to answer questions and provide the most current local information on the labor action as the Oct. 1 walk-out deadline nears.
   “We know both sides are at the table searching for a mutually-beneficial agreement and we hope that they get there soon and any possible labor action avoided,” said Joe D. Harris, VPA spokesman. “Still, we’re of the belief that we have to be prepared and a large part of that is communicating with our stakeholders and the general public: we want the content of this page to be useful information.”