Los Angeles, Long Beach ports act to reduce cargo pile-ups

Los Angeles

SOUTHERN California's largest ports, Los Angeles and Long Beach, which handle 40 per cent of US imports, are taking steps to reduce cargo congestion that has slowed the delivery of goods across the country.

The effort comes as the Pacific Maritime Association, representing employers at 29 West Coast ports, asked on Monday for federal mediation after seven months of contract talks with the International Longshore & Warehouse Union.

Giant steel boxes of cargo have piled up at the ports and ships have had to wait for berths as labour slowdowns complicated a shortage of truck trailers to carry the containers, and…