Forum Post: Clerical workers at LA & LB Ports draw the line on outsourcing by big corporations

San Pedro, CA – Eight-hundred office and clerical workers employed by international carriers at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have decided to strike if companies continue outsourcing good-paying jobs that are critical to the Harbor- area community.

“The big companies are refusing to admit the problem that outsourcing causes for the Harbor Community that depends on these good jobs,” said Ray Familathe, ILWU Vice President-Mainland. “People have run out of patience.”

“We’ve been patiently negotiating with these big companies for the past 30 months, but they’re refusing to respect our community and want to keep outsourcing good jobs – so we’re drawing the line and standing-up for the community,” said Trinie Thompson, a longtime clerical worker employed by American President Lines who participated in the negotiations. “Harbor area families depend on these jobs and the community can’t afford to have them outsourced.”

Over 51 permanent positions that benefit the Harbor community have been lost in recent years because of outsourcing to diverse locations including Costa Rica and Dallas, Texas. The companies have been reluctant to admit their outsourcing strategy, but workers have obtained documents and other information that confirm the practice.

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