The union behind the recent L.A. and Long Beach port strike accuses APM Terminals of conducting ‘secret surveillance’ for months to gain an edge in labor negotiations. APM says it’s investigating the matter.
APM Terminals has been accused by a California dockworkers union of eavesdropping on workers to gain an edge in contract negotiations.
The complaint, filed with the National Labor Relations Board by International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63, said APM “conducted secret surveillance, eavesdropping and snooping and listening in on confidential communications between and among union representatives, shop stewards and members concerning ongoing contract negotiations, bargaining strategies and labor-management issues.”
The complaint was filed Nov. 14, about two weeks before the union’s clerical workers went on an eight-day strike that shut down most of the cargo terminals at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the busiest seaport complex in the country. In the document, the union local alleges that the surveillance dates back at least six months.
An APM official said the company is treating the accusation seriously and put an employee on administrative leave as it conducts its own investigation.
“The allegations when they were received were certainly of great concern to APM Terminals,” said John Crowley, APM’s senior vice president for law and regulatory affairs.