(May 1, 2008, updated) -- PoLB said at midday today (May 1) that workers represented by the Int'l Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) failed to show up for work today (May 1) at the Ports of LB, L.A. and other west coast Ports, and PoLB shipping operators halted or scaled back the loading and unloading of cargo in response.

In a release, the Pacific Merchant Shipping Ass'n (rep'ing terminal operators) said that ILWU "struck West Coast ports from Southern California to the Pacific Northwest, bringing cargo operations to a virtual standstill, as the Union's leadership defied orders from the independent Coast Arbitrator to 'notify its Locals and members of its contractual obligation and direct all members to report to work as they normally do during the day shift on May 1, 2008.'"

The PMSA release called the work stoppage "illegal under the ILWU-Pacific Maritime Association contract" and "comes just two months prior to the expiration of the current labor agreement."

For its part, ILWU said in its own release that "more than 25,000 longshore workers at 29 west coast ports are exercising their First Amendment rights today by taking a day off work and calling for an end to the war in Iraq."

The release quotes ILWU Int'l President Bob McEllrath as saying, "Longshore workers are standing-down on the job and standing up for America...We're supporting the troops and telling politicians in Washington that it's time to end the war in Iraq."

The release says McEllrath indicated that ILWU's rank-and-file members "made their own democratic decision in early February when Longshore Caucus delegates voted to take action on May 1. Employers were notified of the plan, but refused to accommodate the union's request despite plenty of advance notice."

Keith Higginbotham, Editor for AmericanShipper.com's California/Pacific Connection files this story with his publication to which we link with his permission: "ILWU Shutters West Coast Ports in May Day Anti-War Protest"