Robert W. Palaima, president of Delaware River Stevedores, Del Monte’s stevedore, said his company was told the importer of bananas, melons and pineapple would move its business several miles south to a facility operated by Holt Logistics at the Gloucester Marine Terminal.
Palaima said Del Monte provides about 200 jobs to members of the International Longshoremen’s Association in Camden. The union made concessions totaling $5 million to keep the jobs in Camden at DRS.
Holt employs members of the Teamsters and International Association of Machinists at its Gloucester terminal, according to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer.
A major terminal operator in both Philadelphia and on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River, Holt employs ILA members at the Packer Avenue Marine Terminal in Philadelphia.
The Inquirer said local union leaders are asking ILA leadership to devise a response to the Del Monte decision to leave the ILA facility, including perhaps blacklisting Del Monte in other ports.
