Nation’s Busiest Seaport Must Pick Up the Pace

Though I might disagree with a couple of points in the Nov. 15 editorial, “L.A.’s Dawdling Ports,� still I say three cheers for ringing the alarm bells about bankers’ hours of the terminals at the nation’s busiest seaport.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union called for extended hours at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles long ago, and so we agree with The Times that the current business-as-usual schedule is not good enough.

The union would like to see the ports embrace 24/7 access and the creation of inland staging areas so we can move this cargo off the docks and into the supply chain more efficiently and quickly, so goods arrive in neighborhood stores on time.

The longshore contract provides for three shifts, which ensures the terminals can operate 24 hours a day. Let’s hope that shipping firms and the Pacific Maritime Assn. will step to the plate on longer hours and a large workforce to clear the congestion. Otherwise, the only certainty this holiday season is that containers will continue to pile up on the docks.

David Arian

President

International Longshore

and Warehouse Union

Local 13

Wilmington