2014-2015 West Coast Port Slowdown

The 2014 to 2015 slowdown taught many US importers not to depend on a single coast, a lesson that still shapes port diversification and safety stock plans. The dockworkers' contract expired in July 2014, and over the following months terminal productivity fell; employers blamed union slowdowns, while the union blamed poor staffing and training. Ships waited at anchor and containers sat for weeks until a tentative five-year deal covering about 20,000 workers was reached on February 20, 2015, and clearing the backlog took months more. Afterward, more shippers moved some volume to East and Gulf Coast ports and began tracking labor contract dates.

• DemurrageFee for a container left at the port too long
• DetentionFee for holding equipment or a truck too long
• DrayageTrucking containers from port to warehouse

• 2002 West Coast Port Lockout2002 · Employers lock out dockworkers at 29 ports for 11 days
• 1971 to 1972 ILWU Strike1971–1972 · Dockworkers shut West Coast ports over container jobs
• 1934 West Coast Waterfront Strike1934 · A port strike leads to hiring halls with union dispatch

1. Tentative five-year labor pact paves way to ease congestion at West Coast ports (Progressive Railroading) progressiverailroading.com
2. PMA and ILWU finally agree a new five year contract (Container Management) container-mag.com