As the Russia invasion of Ukraine shows no sign of letting up, longshore workers on Thursday, March 3, said they would refuse to load or unload any Russian vessel or handle any incoming or outgoing Russia cargo.
The announcement by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union covers some 20,000 workers at all 29 U.S West Coast ports.
“With this action in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, we send a strong message that we unequivocally condemn the Russian invasion,” said ILWU International President Willie Adams.
The overwhelming amount of incoming cargo at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach comes from Asia.
The amount of cargo arriving from Russia is not a lot, said Port of Long Beach Executive Director Mario Cordero. He said out of 9.4 million containers that arrived through the port in 2021, only 11,497 were imports from Russia.
“In the scope of things,” he said Monday, Feb. 28, at the regular board meeting, “that’s not a very big number.”
Port of Los Angeles Gene Seroka had a similar assessment.
“Trade with Russia is negligible,” Seroka said in a written comment. “Less than two-tenths of 1% of all cargo at the Port of Los Angeles emanates to or from Russia.”
In an ILWU March 3 news release, the union called the invasion of Ukraine “an act of aggression that endangers a population of more than 40 million people, including millions of innocent men, women and children.”
The release went on to say: “Effective immediately, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, with some 20,000 workers strong in 29 ports up and down the United States West Coast, will refuse to load or unload any Russian vessels or Russian cargo coming into or going out of all West Coast ports from Bellingham, Washington, to San Diego, California.”
