Western ports return to normal after workers' war protest

Worker stayed off the job for about 10 hours before returning for evening shifts.

Thousands of dockworkers at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington were no-shows for the morning shift, leaving ships and trucks idle at ports from Long Beach to Seattle, said Pacific Maritime Association spokesman Steve Getzug.

Some longshore workers in San Francisco and Seattle joined rallies with other anti-war protesters. But no longshore workers could be found protesting at the giant Long Beach-Los Angeles port complex.

The work stoppage came during ongoing contract talks between the union and shippers that began in March. The current six-year contract expires on July 1.

The union insisted the walkout was not related to the negotiations and defended its members' right to take the day off.

"We're loyal to America, and we won't stand by while our country, our troops, and our economy are destroyed by a war," said Bob McEllrath, the ILWU's international president.

The West Coast ports are the nation's principal gateway for cargo container traffic from the Far East, with the adjacent ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach handling about 40 percent of the nation's cargo.

J. Craig Shearman, a spokesman for the National Retail Federation, said shippers and exporters expected no long-term disruptions from the walkout.

"This is something that happens every year," he said.