Drop in containers’ movement delays shipment

Drop of 40 to 60 per cent in containers’ movement at the ports of Seattle and Tacoma in the past one week (US west coast ports) is delaying the shipments of apparel and footwear. The Pacific Maritime Association blames it on a work slowdown by the International Longshore & Warehouse Union while the union denies that they caused the problem, and called it mismanagement on the part of the ports. The situation comes as the employer group and the union are in the sixth month of negotiation for a new contract, covering 13,600 workers at 29 ports. Seattle and Tacoma handle about 16 per cent of containerized cargo on the West Coast.