Federal mediators are called in on dock talks

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union agreed yesterday to let federal mediators help settle the crucial issue of upgrading ports, the first sign of progress in the four-day shutdown of West Coast ports.

As negotiators inched toward resuming contract talks, the dispute spread yesterday, as employers temporarily laid off more than 300 Machinists at Puget Sound ports.

Still, the involvement of federal mediators is the first good news for thousands of picketing dockworkers, their employers and 32 ships waiting to unload and load in Puget Sound.

The agreement is a glimmer of hope on the most contentious issue, adding bar-code scanners and other technology to ports, in contract talks for 10,500 dockworkers. The two sides plan to meet today.

"I'm confident this matter is doable," Peter Hurtgen, director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, said after meeting with the union yesterday.

The federal assistance, however, doesn't necessarily signal a breakthrough. Mediators can suggest options and facilitate a dialogue, but they can't force either side to do anything.

The union also only agreed that mediators could help settle the fight over technology. The Longshore union and the Pacific Maritime Association must resolve pension, wage and other issues on their own.

"We hope this signals a breakthrough, and we look forward to discussing the steps that will enable the ports to reopen," said Tom Edwards, Northern California manager of the PMA, said in a statement released last night.

In another dispute, employers laid off 900 mechanics across the West Coast this week, including more than 300 in Puget Sound, after Longshore members threatened them as they reported for work, the International Association of Machinists said yesterday.

Employers released the workers to avoid any more problems with Longshore workers, who allegedly threatened to harm working Mechanics, according to Don Hursey, president of the Washington Machinists Council.

Under a separate contract, Machinists are required to report for work, Hursey said.

"We feel betrayed about this," Hursey said. "The Longshoremen are making it so difficult, placing our union (members') safety at risk."

Local Longshore spokesman Jack Block Jr. said picketing dockworkers didn't threaten or harass Machinists. He added, however, Machinists can now support their fellow union members by not crossing the picket line -- while still collecting unemployment.

Although the Mechanic layoffs are temporary, leaders of the Machinists union worry that Longshore union negotiators are trying to gain control of their waterfront jobs at the bargaining table.

As the unions argued, automakers, retailers and farmers surely welcomed the new federal involvement. The dispute has stalled millions of dollars in trade, everything from bananas to cars, off the West Coast, threatening an already fragile economic recovery.

Fremont, Calif.-based New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. became the first auto producer to close its doors.

It planned to suspend production yesterday because of a shortage of Japanese parts. Nissan Motor Co. threatened to follow suit if the dispute drags on for another week.

Alaskans may face shortages as well, as two Alaska-bound ships at the Port of Tacoma remained in port.

International Longshore workers offered to work the ships, but operating companies declined the offer.

Dockworkers, however, continue to work cruise ships and military cargo across the West Coast.

In Seattle, Longshore Local 19 unloaded Royal Caribbean's Radiance of the Sea, handing $25,000 in pay to the King County Labor Agency.

If negotiators settle their differences immediately the economy will escape serious harm, Robert Parry, president of the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco said yesterday.

"But if shipments in and out of ports here are interrupted much longer, the drag on the economy would be more significant," Parry added.

P-I reporter Paul Nyhan can be reached at 206-448-8145 or paulnyhan@seattlepi.com This report includes information from The Associated Press and Bloomberg News.

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