Ships Queue off California as Dock Labor Dispute Intensifies

Ports on the West Coast will partially shut for four days amid an ongoing dispute between operators and workers.

The ports will see reduced activity on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday as terminal operators and shipping lines accuse workers of deliberately slowing operations, the LA Times reports. The workers would be eligible for overtime pay on Thursday and Monday, which are holidays, and it’s unclear whether a continued slowdown or even a total closure will follow.

The union representing the workers denies the allegations and blames the shipping companies for the port congestion that has delayed shipments from Asia. Los Angeles and Long Beach ports are the country’s busiest, accounting for roughly 40 percent of incoming container cargo according to the Times.

The nine-month labor dispute, which has left workers without a contract since July, has repeatedly slowed operations and prompted concerns recently of a lockout of dockworkers.

Read more at the LA Times.