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Slowdown at West Coast ports badly hits US scrap exports

iconFeb 13, 2015 10:29
Source:SMM
The dispute between dock workers at US West Coast ports and the employers have hit the exports of recycled materials.

Author: Paul Ploumis
12 Feb 2015 Last updated at 07:48:50 GMT
SPOKANE (Scrap Monster): The dispute between dock workers at US West Coast ports and the employers have hit the exports of recycled materials. The workers staged slowdown at ports after the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) failed to finalize a long-term contract. Over the weekend, PMA suspended vessel operations at the ports.

According to Doug Kramer, owner of Kramer Metals Inc., the scrap exporting business throughout the country has been hit hard by the slowdown. The export volumes have seen drastic declines, forcing exporters to temporarily close down operations. The slowdown has adversely affected US economy in general and the entire scrap recycling industry in particular, he said. Kramer was speaking on the sidelines of the second international conference organized by the Metal Recycling Association of India (MRAI).

The dispute will have crippling effect on the scrap recycling industry and will cost hundreds of American jobs, industry experts noted. Approximately $9.4 billion worth scrap is being exported out of West Coast ports every year. Scrap is the top export commodity by volume out of the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

As per latest update, West Coast ports have resumed operations effective Monday. PMA has proposed a new contract offer, raising the annual average salary of full-time ILWU workers from $147,000 to more than $160,000. Also, the offer proposes an increase in maximum pension from $80,000 to $89,000. The five year offer also offers to provide free health insurance to ILWU workers.
 

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