Western ports return to normal after workers' war protest
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- West Coast cargo traffic came to a halt Thursday as port workers ditched the day shift, saying they wanted to commemorate May Day and call on the U.S. to end the war in Iraq.
Worker stayed off the job for about 10 hours before returning for evening shifts.
Thousands of dockworkers at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington were no-shows for the morning shift, leaving ships and trucks idle at ports from Long Beach to Seattle, said Pacific Maritime Association spokesman Steve Getzug.
Some longshore workers in San Francisco and Seattle joined rallies with other anti-war protesters. But no longshore workers could be found protesting at the giant Long Beach-Los Angeles port complex.
The work stoppage came during ongoing contract talks between the union and shippers that began in March. The current six-year contract expires on July 1.
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Union members voted during a caucus in February to take May 1 off to protest the war. Employers raised objections with an arbitrator, who ruled in favor of the employers and ordered the union to tell members to show up for work.
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