WASHINGTON—A one-day strike by 6,000 port workers on the US West Coast brought cargo operations to “a virtual standstill” last week, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) said.

The day-shift stoppage, which the association called “illegal,” comes two months before the workers’ contract expires. The association represents the port workers’ employers.

The International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) said the purpose of the strike was to demand an end to the war in Iraq.

PMA spokesman Steve Getzug called the walkout “disappointing,” and said the move is a way for the union to show power after it began contract negotiations two months ago.

“We’re not sure what it flags in terms of negotiations,” Getzug said. “The United States can’t afford uncertainty about the reliability of the West Coast ports.”

West Coast ports were idled for 10 days in 2002 when ILWU members struck during negotiations for the current six-year contract, which expires July 1.

The move last week was intended “to send a message to the folks in Washington that don’t seem to be listening to the American public about getting out of the war in Iraq,” said Craig Merrilees, a union spokesman.

The union’s 25,000 members work at 29 West Coast ports, from San Diego to Bellingham, Washington. The workers load and unload about 10,000 containers during a normal day shift, so the loss of even one day’s work will cause a backlog, Getzug said.

“There is a delay, and the hope is because it’s eight hours, it mitigates the impact some, but there will be an impact,” he said.

The employers, including A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, which handles cargo at more than 50 ports on five continents, were given ample notice about the work stoppage last week, Merrilees said.

“The intention by workers was not aimed at the companies,” he said. “The companies have adjusted a long time ago and adjusted the ship movements. Ships off the coast have been slowing down for days.” (Bloomberg)

‘Government should do its part to upgrade roads to ports’

ASIAN Terminals Inc. (ATI) said its effort to modernize its flagship facility in Manila would be rendered useless if the government would not reciprocate by putting up more infrastructure going in and out of the port.

THE transportation arm of the Aboitiz Group suffered a net loss for the first quarter of the year as the company said it is continuing to change its operations from purely ferrying passengers and delivering cargoes into becoming a value-added service provider to other firms.

HONG KONG—Hyundai Engineering & Construction Co., South Korea’s largest builder by market value, received a $2.07-billion contract to build a power plant in Qatar, the single-biggest overseas plant order for a South Korean company.

WASHINGTON—A one-day strike by 6,000 port workers on the US West Coast brought cargo operations to “a virtual standstill” last week, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) said.