Acting U.S. Labor Secretary Julie Su joined officials at the Port of Los Angeles on Wednesday, where they celebrated a remarkable increase in cargo volume of 70% in June, a significant turnaround from the lows experienced in February.
Executive Director Gene Seroka revealed that the port handled over 833,020 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), coming within 5% of the record set in June 2022. Furthermore, this performance exceeded the port’s five-year monthly average by nearly 6%.
Seroka enthusiastically stated, “June marked our strongest performance since last July and the lows of February. We achieved a remarkable 70% increase in cargo volume, with four months of consecutive gains. Overall, June was a successful month across the board.”
The port imported 435,307 TEUs in June, a slight 2% decrease from the same period last year. However, exports experienced a solid 15% year-over-year increase, with 108,050 TEUs shipped. In addition, the port saw a 14% decline in the shipment of empty containers back to Asia, totaling 289,679 TEUs.
Seroka expressed, “At the halfway point of 2023, the Port of Los Angeles has handled 4.1 million TEUs. Although this is 23% less than our near-record start last year and 12% below our five-year average, we remain confident about the upcoming months.”
Looking ahead, Seroka shared his optimism, stating, “We have a tentative labor deal in place and the economy continues to show resilience.” He referred to the recent agreement between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association. Seroka also highlighted the cooling inflation rate for the 12th consecutive month, with consumer prices only increasing by 3% from the previous year.
Secretary Su joined Seroka to discuss her instrumental role in achieving the labor deal and provided insights into investments aimed at creating more job opportunities.
During labor negotiations, Su played a key role in resolving conflicts related to autonomous equipment at the Port of LA’s docks. She also lent her support to the port’s innovative training programs.
In reference to the talks in June, Su clarified, “I did not intend to spend a week in San Francisco. My goal was to visit the ILWU and PMA to assess the situation and provide any necessary assistance. Supporting the collective bargaining process was my priority, as it is invaluable and crucial.”
The negotiations between the ILWU and PMA lasted for 13 months, as they grappled with challenging issues. Su expressed her honor in joining the two parties at the table and encouraging their ongoing collaboration.
She emphasized, “The most important lesson we learned is that collective bargaining is effective. It is a healthy process that enables labor and management to address difficult issues, ensuring fair treatment for workers and promoting stability and resilience within the industry.”
Lastly, Secretary Su reiterated the U.S. Department of Labor’s commitment to job creation and empowering workers.
Highlighting the progress made, Su stated, “Just three years ago, we faced an economic catastrophe due to the pandemic. Since President Biden took office, our economy has added 13.2 million jobs. To put this into perspective, it took a decade to recover the same number of jobs after the 2008 Great Recession.” She further emphasized the consistent low unemployment rate of 4% for the past year and a half, reflecting significant job growth under the federal government’s efforts.
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