Oct. 31, 2002 PMA is misleading government, say US west coast dockers THE International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) told the US Department of Justice on Tuesday that the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents shipping lines and port operators, is misleading the agency by distorting the facts at the heart of the backlog facing west coast ports. The action comes six days after port employers officially complained to the Justice Department that workers were deliberately slowing operations at docks from Washington to California. The ILWU said in a statement the problem at the 29 west coast ports lay with management's continued refusal to address personnel, congestion and safety issues that are affecting productivity on the docks. James Spinosa, president of the ILWU, said: "We are working around the clock to ease the backlog in our ports. Instead of working in good faith to improve this situation, the PMA is trying to shift the blame. Our workers are working hard on the docks, but the PMA is unwilling or unable to resolve the backlog." In a letter to the Justice Department, the ILWU explained that the union has taken affirmative steps to ensure that its members are complying with the Taft-Hartley injunction and has also made proactive efforts to convene labour-management meetings to address the many production challenges created by the lockout. The ILWU said that the PMA has failed to identify any unlawful conduct by ILWU members that would warrant a finding of non-compliance with the Taft-Hartley injunction. The union added that the productivity of its 10,000 plus members was being affected by a list of issues including lack of yard space, increased traffic on the docks and skilled labour shortages.   More News