SEATTLE — Truck drivers and commuters were caught in traffic for hours Thursday, due to a port slowdown as part of labor negotiations between ILWU longshoremen and the Pacific Maritime Association.
While longshoremen have been accused of slowing down their work, PMA also reduced their night shift hours in response. To make matters worse, cargo ships from other backed up ports along the West Coast arrived in Seattle, adding to the port’s congestion.
SDOT Director Scott Kubly said the port was able to open up Terminal 5 as a waiting area for trucks, instead of having them backed up on Spokane Street Friday morning.
KIRO 7 asked if there would be problems Sunday, when football fans descend on the area around Century Link Field, not far from Terminal 18.
Kubly said, “That’s actually one of the reasons we wanted to spring into action so fast. So the mayor, I think, was really clear that we needed to get it done quickly, and I think aside from the regular commute, you don’t want a bunch of Seahawks fans getting to the game a little late.”
With the traffic solution and the port being closed Sunday, Kubly said he doesn’t anticipate problems related to the port slowdown.
Meanwhile, businesses continue to worry that the long dispute will cause long-term consequences.
Dermot Carey, the senior vice president of ingredients at Darigold, said the impact has been severe.
“We were hoping once in federal mediation, we’d see some dock improvement, but it actually went the other way,” Carey said.
He said they’ve lost tens of millions of dollars so far and are unable to ship items like dry milk powder and butter to Asia.
“Even though they understand the situation, it doesn’t mean they won’t look for an alternative source, out of Asia, out of Europe, or Oceania, whom we compete with. That’s the big risk,” he said.