FEDERAL MEDIATOR TO RESUME PMA/ILWU NEGOTIATIONS

FEDERAL MEDIATOR TO RESUME PMA/ILWU NEGOTIATIONS    Peter J. Hurtgen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, said he is resuming the joint bargaining sessions between the Pacific Maritime Association, which represent port employers on the U.S. West Coast, and the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union.
   The negotiations will resume Oct. 24.
      Hurtgen and the mediation team met separately with the parties on Oct. 16 and 17, and will perform fact-finding visits to the ports of Long Beach and Oakland on Oct.21-22, the Washington-based federal service said.
   Hurtgen said he has scheduled two days of negotiations for next week, but talks could be extended.
   Following President Bush’s acted with his authority under the Taft-Hartley Act, the Pacific Maritime Association and International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union were required to resume normal operations, and work with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to resolve the dispute.