First Crack in PMA lockout: ILWU will Untie Ship with Military Cargo at the Port of Oakland
October 2, 2002

(Oakland) A ship at the Sealand Terminal in Oakland carrying military cargo will be the first vessel to go out to sea from a West Coast port since the second PMA-imposed lockout began on Sunday.

That ship, the Maersk Innovator, takes off at 4:00 p.m. today. It was partially loaded before the lockout, but was unable to set sail before the PMA shut down all West Coast ports. After three days of efforts, the ILWU and Maersk were able to convince the PMA to allow longshore workers to get the ship on the way.

This is the first crack in the PMA lockout, said ILWU Local 10 President Richard Mead. But we finally convinced PMA to order longshore workers out of the hall and get the essential military cargo out.

Mead and other ILWU longshore workers, along with members of the Masters, Mates and Pilots (MMP) and Maritime Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA), the crew and officers aboard the ship, will walk through the Maersk-Sealand terminal gates together this afternoon. ILWU linesmen will untie the ship and send it off.

The ILWU is committed to shipping all military cargo.