Cargo-handling operations at West Coast ports returned to normal Monday but not without some minor labor conflicts over the weekend in the Pacific Northwest.

Negotiators for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association reported that modest progress was made at the bargaining table over the critical issue of technology.

ILWU spokesman Steve Stallone said negotiations were scheduled to resume Monday afternoon West Coast time with the PMA expected to respond to the union's latest proposal on technology.

Over the weekend, Stevedoring Services of America charged that the ILWU slowed down operations at its terminal in Tacoma by refusing to dispatch enough workers. Stallone said a number of terminals in the Pacific Northwest experienced labor shortages due to the crush of work during the busy peak season.

Longshoremen were "doubling back," or working two shifts in a row in Seattle and Tacoma, Stallone said. However, waterfront safety rules require that a longshoreman rest at least one shift after doubling back. As a result, there simply was not enough manpower for all of the jobs in Seattle-Tacoma, he said.

Last week, employers threatened to lockout the ILWU in Los Angeles-Long Beach when SSA was unable to get enough skilled equipment operators. SSA filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board in Los Angeles. A lock-out was averted Thursday night when the ILWU dispatched a full shift of operators to the SSA facility in Long Beach.

SSA also charged that it had productivity problems at its breakbulk facility in Portland. Stallone said the Portland incident resulted from the actions of "one guy getting frustrating and dropping a load of steel."

Also over the weekend, PMA President Joseph Miniace formally asked ILWU President James Spinosa to return to the policy both parties followed in July and August, which was to extend the previous contract on a day-to-day basis. The previous contract was set to expire on July 1. That policy prevented work slowdowns, stoppages and employer lock-outs. A PMA spokesman said the ILWU rejected that request. The ILWU has been working without a contract since Labor Day weekend.

Both parties have apparently reached a tentative agreement on ILWU benefits, which was a major goal of the union. However, the two sides are reportedly still far apart on the issues of labor-saving technology and a PMA proposal to restructure the arbitration process for settling disputes as they arise on the waterfront. Those are key issues for the PMA.

By Bill Mongelluzzo