The longshoremen of Local 333 of the International Longshoremen?s Association are split over whether or not to push on in the disagreement with the Port of Baltimore. The standoff is beginning to affect the trade at the port as some customers fear a recurrence of labor dispute of 4 months ago. After a 90-day cooling-off period, the Port of Baltimore has said that it would not lock the longshoremen out. The union has stated that it would not strike again, but it does not appear that a contract is any closer to being agreed upon. A federal arbitrator ruled the last strike invalid. Although the employers have presented a contract which some said was unprecedented in its high starting wages and annual wages the union?s leaders have decided not to vote on the contract, leaving many members angry at the lack of opportunity to voice their opinion.
See "Longshoremen ranks split as labor dispute rages on", Kevin Rector, Baltimore Sun, January 19, 2014