Maersk leaving Charleston port
By Allyson Bird
Maersk Line, the Port of Charleston's biggest customer, announced Thursday afternoon it would depart, following unsuccessful negotiations with the International Longshoremen's Association and the S.C. State Ports Authority to cut costs.
Maersk will move one line, representing one-quarter of its local business, in early 2009 and will completely depart no later than Dec. 31, 2010, when its contract in Charleston ends.
"The South Carolina State Ports Authority offered us a workable solution that involved a move into the common yard, but we need the consent of the local ILA to accomplish the move," said Dana Magliola, a Maersk spokesman, in a written statement. "The ILA refused to consent, and so we are forced to move."
Read more here later and in tomorrow's editions of The Post and Courier.
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singleroni (anonymous) says...
GREAT JOB UNION - CHARLESTON COUNTY SCHOOL EDUCATED- WHERE YOU GONNA GET ANOTHER JOB?
December 18, 2008 at 4:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SCHoser (anonymous) says...
All the idiots screaming for the end of the ports-wait and see what happens when our port business goes. Think it's bad now? This is only the beginning...And to those who think we will just make more space for yacht clubs and such, think again. There will not be enough clients or $$$ to successfully support any leisure ventures.
December 18, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
cu2sday (anonymous) says...
Another union screwing things up.
December 18, 2008 at 4:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coolfreaknbeans (anonymous) says...
Boy that union sure showed them! Uh...NOT! What a bunch of greedy fn idiots. I hope every single greedy jerk who took part is jobless for a long time. So many of these people who work in plants and the such have no real education or skills and get paid $30 per hr. Then these ingrates piss and moan that they're under paid. Wake up people, most people with your education/skill level have to bust their azzes in a fast food joint for a lil over min. wage! Be thankful for the job you have.
December 18, 2008 at 4:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SC_Native_ElCid07 (anonymous) says...
HOLY COW! This ain't good.
December 18, 2008 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BillytheKid (anonymous) says...
Another Union that has been around too long! When times get tough you have to give back, or you will loose everything.
December 18, 2008 at 4:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
1963 (anonymous) says...
They thought they were so powerful as a union. Well they are now SOL for a lot of jobs, and jobs related to the port. This affects truckers, loaders, railroads, etc. In my opinion, I would outlaw unions. They can put the screws to businesses but this is a backlash on them.
December 18, 2008 at 4:58 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mlittle212 (anonymous) says...
Good! Now, I just hope we can all get jobs delivering pizzas to one another!! Does anyone ever wonder why there are NO Fortune 500 companies HQ'd in this state?
December 18, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UberBlitzkrieg (anonymous) says...
Way to go ILA! I guess you showed them.
December 18, 2008 at 5:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammanofdi (anonymous) says...
While I am ultimately saddened by another business leaving the state when we are already in a financial crisis, they can't say that they didn't do it to themselves. Plus, I'm for any situation that will lessen the amount of tractor trailers on our roads. On Tuesday night, I was passed by a truck - carrying a trailer - on 2 lane Clements Ferry Road - as I was running 60+ mph. Whatever will get these meth'ed out "professionals" off of our streets is fine with me.
December 18, 2008 at 5:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rbr132 (anonymous) says...
way to go ILA! you spent so much time putting up that fugly light display in front of your HQs and less time thinking about the consequences of yet another employer leaving the city.
December 18, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmettotree (anonymous) says...
Once again the port gets screwed over through no fault of theirs. The ILA think they are gods and others have to obey them. They suck
December 18, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmettotree (anonymous) says...
Jamman those semi trucks represent a job. A job that a person needs for sustenance, you know like food, clothing, and shelter. Not only are the truck drivers affected by this but so is every last person in the area including you. Stop and think about where you get your goods from. Who helps pay your tax bill? Yep truck drivers have an outrageous tax bill alright. If it wasn't for truck drivers you would have to pay more for everything. The ILA get paid bonus' and a mighty fair wage and some of them live on the street. Now it seems like other locals may lose their jobs and have to go live on the street. Lord knows where Sanford will get the money for the unemployment checks. Jamman are you willing to pay these truck drivers, the workers in the shipping offices also possibly port workers yourself out of your pocket if they lose their jobs? The ILA can defend themselves. Quit complaining about the semi trucks and worry about your fellow man.
December 18, 2008 at 5:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
onesidedsquare (anonymous) says...
Thank you unions, for encouraging growth and economic opportunities in the area!
December 18, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bunting (anonymous) says...
Hmmmmmmm...the steel industry, the auto industry, and now the longshoremen...common denominator? Unions. You'd think they'd learn. Then again, do I detect another bailout request coming?
December 18, 2008 at 6:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
tim7676 (anonymous) says...
Hopefully Governor Sanford can get this mess corrected.
December 18, 2008 at 6:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
CompostandWourier (anonymous) says...
Brilliant move ILA. Maybe tomorrow you can shoot yourself in the other foot. You were overpaid, now you will not be paid. It's a shame for all of the non union workers who will lose their jobs because of your greed and ignorance.
December 18, 2008 at 6:21 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...
First the UAW gives the auto industry 4 flat tires and the taxpayer is going to be the spare, (which still leaves 3 flats) now the greed of the Longshoremen's Association, is going to sink the ports.
Have these union thugs not learned anything? Bush and the deomcrats should stop the bailouts or we are all going down. The dollar wont be worth spit!
December 18, 2008 at 6:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...
I hear McDonalds is hiring, but there is only one clown position open.
December 18, 2008 at 6:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
exorcist_pencocky4u (anonymous) says...
Does the Union work Mt. Pleasant and North Charleston ports too?
December 18, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TacrolimusAddict (anonymous) says...
Yesterday we were going to put the SPA Chairman and Board under Gov Sanford and his cabinet. Today we don't hear a word from the Governors' office on this negative news.
We can see from today's article what happens when (Politics/Unions) are involved in the decision making process.
December 18, 2008 at 6:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
Labour unions, which started out as a benefit for the worker have now become a legal form of Mafioso that charge companies unrealistic wages and demand things that are not going to happen just to get paid..
The big 3 Auto makers are examples of companies that have been left behind because of labour unions. The companies became less innovative and much less profitable over time due to the drag of the unions.
They also began to offer inferior products to the Ja_panese because of the lack of innovation and higher cost structure.
The American steel industry was destroyed by unions as well. Today, almost all of America's steel capacity has been decimated.
There are 10 major unions with every airline.
A typical example is that unions will have a clause written into their contract that only a certified electrician is allowed to change light bulbs.
So if a light bulb goes out and the electrician is on vacation, everything dependent upon that light bulb must pause until the electrician returns.
Job security? Not anymore. Did the unions get a certified carpenter to saw the branch they were all standing on?
How about a certified plumber to fluch their jobs down the toilet?
December 18, 2008 at 6:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammer (anonymous) says...
holy crap, how STUPID can these ILA buffoons be???
STUPID STUPID STUPID
they need to banish ALL unions, they are taking this nation down the drain one industry at a time at a very rapid pase... someone needs to stop them before it gets any worse
how STUPID can you be... lets see, get paid only for the work I actaully do or no pay at all was the choice right??
well CONGRAT's a Phukinlucions, you've just accomplished removing a few more hundred people from the work force... once you add up support groups for all these trucks/ers it will add up even higher
just what we needed, MORE unemployed people... STUPID GREEDY IGNORANT BAFOONS
should I tell you how I really feel?? rofl...
December 18, 2008 at 7 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...
If the ports shut down, does that mean less traffic, in the morning?
December 18, 2008 at 7:07 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Chicago_Thug (anonymous) says...
jammer, I would think that Obama, will save the ports.
December 18, 2008 at 7:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
44_mag (anonymous) says...
WAY TO GO ILA! YOUR UNION FIRST MENTALITY PREVAILS AGAIN. NOW I'VE ALWAYS SUSPECTED YOU GUYS (AND GALS) ARE NOT THE SHARPEST KNIFE IN THE DRAWER, AND NOW YOU'VE PROVED IT.
December 18, 2008 at 7:25 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
I wonder if the workers WIVES will stand for this...??? I wonder if the WIVES will get together on their OWN and actually stand together and SHOW everyone WHO the real BOSS is...!?!?! It would behoove the entire LOWCOUNTRY for these fine women to pull out a calculator and crunch numbers on their OWN and MARCH on down to the MAERSK offices and have a chat....?!?! Are the fine South Carolina women gonna listen to some UNION Brass from who KNOWS where???? LOL....LOL !!!
What would Martin Luther KING....DO !?!?!
December 18, 2008 at 8:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whatever68 (anonymous) says...
Typical. Everyone here reads a half a story. Believes the Big Corporation spokesperson and has no clue what the ILA gave up. You assume it was not enough when clearly the Company just wants to drive wages down and break the union.
Of course the Gov will not help bring the parties together but will ask for power over the port and side against the union because of politics.
Where are they going where there is not a union on the shore?
China has no unions, I wish our workers has their pay and rights!!!
December 18, 2008 at 8:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JC (anonymous) says...
UNFNBELIEVABLE that a union can dictate where a business can and cannot operate. Unions were formed to protect the workers from unsafe and unfair working practices. They have grown into monsters without brains. These are difficult times and its going to get worse! What the H-E- DOUBLE TOOTHPICKS were they thinking? For the union's lack of caring of nobody else but "the union" they are going to pay a big price. And for what - just to say we are selfish and are not willing to give or even be flexible. You had better be flexible waiting in unemployment lines and soup lines, otherwise you'll get your as%&s kicked. You should start practicing standing in line - the unemployment lines, soup lines, pantry lines and the list gones on. SELFISH IDIOTS!!!!!!!!!!!! DO AWAY WITH UNIONS!!!
December 18, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
B_Fwank (anonymous) says...
whatever68
"China has no unions, I wish our workers has their pay and rights!!!'
You are a flippin dumbarse. China is a COMMUNIST country you arse.
workers have plenty rights and a min. wage. Did mommy let you type stupid crap?
December 18, 2008 at 8:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whatever68 (anonymous) says...
"China has no unions, I wish our workers has their pay and rights!!!'
You are a flippin dumbarse. China is a COMMUNIST country you arse.
workers have plenty rights and a min. wage. "
Ok B Fwank, What happen in the negotiations?
Tell me you are so smart.
and by the way Unions got all the rights including Min wage so I guess we thank them how? And yes China is commie, that is my point!
But you know what was demanded by the Union based on this story so tell me why the union is to blame......
December 18, 2008 at 8:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
whseguru (anonymous) says...
Seems to me that the ports are not the only one's missing the boat here. Everyone screaming ILA do not realise it is as much ILA as it is the SCSPA. Savannah and Norfolk are rolling out the "Red Carpet" if you mention the word distribution or warehouse. Day late and dollar short on the development in Jedburg. Charleston has been land locked for years. Poor developement choices ( Let's put 500 more homes here, then here, then here) and arteries out of Charleston started this spiral years ago. One used to not be able to see the waterfront years ago when riding by on Meeting St. The waterfront community, NON - UNION, should be calling on SCSPA and want to know WHY? Very simnple question...Why did YOU let this happen?
I'll wait and see what the pumpers have to say in the morning. Great job all involved in the negotiations !!!! Hope you can find work soon.
December 18, 2008 at 9:47 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
elcid81 (anonymous) says...
Here we go again.... Greed... where does it get us? People complain about traffic, but what about those who are impacted by this decision? Talk about recovery.
December 18, 2008 at 10:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UberBlitzkrieg (anonymous) says...
Guru. Great Job?!?! You have got to be kidding me?!
December 18, 2008 at 11:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Osgood30 (anonymous) says...
Lower wages or no wages. Pick one. The ILA picked the latter. Everyone loses.
December 19, 2008 at 12:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USC_Alumni (anonymous) says...
This is not good for Charleston, the lowcountry or the State.
The ILA literally handed their jobs to the ports of Georgia and the new huge port being built in Jacksonville.
I guess the ILA didn't realize that they are actually small fish in a very big pond.
December 19, 2008 at 12:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UberBlitzkrieg (anonymous) says...
The ILA called Maersk's bluff. Guess what? Maersk did not blink.
December 19, 2008 at 2:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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