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Contract talks adjourn amid 5th day of port strike

Published: December 2, 2012 Comment on this article

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Contract talks between striking clerical workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and shippers have adjourned for the night.

photo - Clerical workers picket in the rain at entrance to Pier 400 at the Port of Los Angeles Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012. Cargo ships were stacking up at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as a strike by about about 70 clerical workers shut down most of the terminals that together are the nation's busiest port complex. Dockworkers were refusing to cross the picket lines even though an arbitrator ruled the walkout invalid on Tuesday. By Thursday morning, at least 18 ships docked and inside the adjacent harbors were not being serviced, port spokesmen said. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Clerical workers picket in the rain at entrance to Pier 400 at the Port of Los Angeles Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012. Cargo ships were stacking up at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as a strike by about about 70 clerical workers shut down most of the terminals that together are the nation's busiest port complex. Dockworkers were refusing to cross the picket lines even though an arbitrator ruled the walkout invalid on Tuesday. By Thursday morning, at least 18 ships docked and inside the adjacent harbors were not being serviced, port spokesmen said. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

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The walkout has dramatically slowed activity at the nation's busiest cargo complex for the fifth day Saturday as dockworkers refuse to cross picket lines set up by union clerical workers.

A spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union said talks ran until 9:15 p.m. and were scheduled to resume Sunday morning.

The clerical workers have been without a contract for more than two years. The union contends that terminal operators have outsourced local clerical jobs out of state and overseas. The shippers deny the allegation and say they have offered lifelong job security to the 600 or so full-time clerical workers.