The 15,000-member International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union (ILWU) has asked California Governor Schwarzenegger to veto pending legislation that would enact a $40-60 dollar fee on 40+ foot cargo carriers going through several California ports. The fee is intended for use as funding for pollution-reduction programs, and comes at the end of list of several related fees already enacted, which will begin to levy $150-200 fees early next year. The union fears that yet another fee will cause retailers to avoid the California ports altogether. Union spokesman Joe Radisich regrets that this legislation has been put forth by Senator Alan Lowenthal, with whom the union has always had a good relationship. ?The bottom line,? he says, ?is that Sen. Lowenthal's legislation is the last one to cross the finish line and it's behind all the other container fees that are already being implemented.? The senator, for his part, says the two parties will just have to agree to disagree on this one.
See "Port workers union seeks Schwarzenegger veto of cargo container fee bill", Ronald D. White, Los Angeles Times, September 28, 2008