West Coast Port Terminals Temporarily Shut on Labor Shortage

*Los Angeles, Long Beach port terminals close on Thursday

*Dockworkers have been in labor talks since May last year

The twin ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach closed Thursday because of a manpower shortage that may have been exacerbated by drawn-out labor talks.

The port terminals were shut as of 5 pm local time because of a shortage of labor, according to notices sent to the trucking community that were viewed by Bloomberg News. It’s unclear when they will reopen.  

Ian Weiland, chief operating officer of Long Beach-based logistics company, Junction Collaborative Transports, confirmed the closures in a LinkedIn post.

Talks began over a new labor contract for West Coast dockworkers last May, and Thursday’s closures come as cargo volumes drop sharply at the Southern California ports from peak levels a year ago. The threat of union unrest has spurred retailers, manufacturers and other importers to avoid potential shipping snarls by diverting goods to East and Gulf coast.

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