NEW YORK – New Jersey port drivers ended their protest Monday at the Newark-Elizabeth container complex after a three-hour meeting with representatives of terminal operators.
“The Truckers have agreed to go back to work. There’s no more disruption, ” said Dan Maynard, a spokesman for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
“Today has been almost a normal day, ” said Brian Maher, chairman of Maher Terminals, the port’s largest stevedore.
Representatives of the drivers and the terminal operators both expressed optimism about the prospects for resolving at least some of the issues raised by the truckers.
But Ron Carver, a spokesman for the Teamsters union, said the two sides weren’t able to address key issues like rates paid to truckers by ship lines for moving containers between the port and inland destinations.
“The tough issues are going to require union representation and labor-management negotiations, ” he said.
The Teamsters have embarked on a nationwide effort to organize port drivers. Rising fuel prices have sparked long-simmering frustrations over issues like long turnaround times at marine terminals and trucker liability for overweight containers.
The protest in New Jersey began last Thursday and continued Friday. Similar demonstrations are expected this week at other ports around the country.
The New Jersey meeting, which was arranged by the port authority, produced a satisfactory dialogue, according to two of the participants.
“It was a good meeting. We made some real progress, ” Carver said.
“It was a very constructive meeting. Everyone had their chance to speak, ” said Don Hamm, general manager for American Stevedoring Inc. , one of the port’s largest terminal operators.
“Certainly the fuel issue is one that affects us. We hear what they’re saying, ” Hamm added, referring to the higher fuel prices that terminal operators are paying for cranes and vehicles at their facilities.
As for other issues, Hamm said the management participants, including representatives of Maersk Sealand and Maher Terminals, pledged to do what they could to resolve them.
“They had a lot of bonafide requests, ” he said.
“Today’s discussion was only the beginning. Parties have agreed to work together on all issues, ” added Maynard, the Port Authority spokesman.
Meanwhile, Carver said he is optimistic that the union will be able to organize port drivers in New Jersey.
“There’s overwhelming support for the Teamsters in New Jersey. Over a thousand people have signed Teamster cards here, ” Carver said, adding that the union held a meeting on Sunday at which drivers indicated a strong desire to go with the union.
