The Los Angeles City Council has approved a significant motion to discuss the future of dockwork at the Port of Los Angeles, particularly in the context of increasing automation. On Friday, December 6, the council voted unanimously in favour of the motion, with a tally of 12-0, as introduced by Councilmember Tim McOsker, whose 15th District includes the vital Harbour Area.
Representatives from the UCLA Labor Center will be invited to present their findings from a recently published report titled “Automation and the Future of Dockwork at the San Pedro Bay Port Complex” at a future meeting. The absence of council members Nithya Raman, Monica Rodriguez, and Kevin de Leon was noted during the vote.
The UCLA Labor Center's report critically examines the potential ramifications of heightened automation at both the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which together constitute one of the busiest port complexes in the world, handling over 30% of U.S. domestic imports. Notably, three of the twelve terminals in this complex have already incorporated varying levels of automation, with other terminals actively contemplating similar technological investments.
A pivotal finding in the report indicates that automation could lead to negative repercussions, with scant evidence suggesting any significant positive returns. Councilmember McOsker highlighted that the report revealed immediate safety risks to workers, an increase in workplace surveillance and control, and perhaps unintended consequences reverberating throughout the supply chain as a direct result of automation.
Concerns have been voiced by industry stakeholders regarding the prospect of increased automation possibly endangering jobs and overall well-being within the harbour community. The motion articulates, “As the Council office continues to work with the local community and workforce on policies that impact job counts and workplace conditions at the port, academic and labor data must be considered alongside these discussions.”
The forthcoming discussions with the UCLA Labor Center will likely address these central issues, as the council seeks to navigate the complex landscape of automation's impact on employment and safety in one of the nation’s critical commercial hubs.
Source: Noah Wire Services