McConnell: Maersk Leaving Not a Done Deal

December 23, 2008 by senatormcconnell

The weather maybe cold but talks to keep the port’s biggest customer are heating up. Today state lawmakers enter the discussion. Still, a series of hurdles remain to keep Maersk from leaving.

The company name spread across dozens of containers. Maersk accounts for nearly a quarter of the ports yearly business. Last week, a bombshell, the global shipping giant announced it’s plan to leave the Charleston port, citing a breakdown in negotiations with the International Longshoreman Association. State Senator Glenn McConnell says the Union is being unfairly blamed from the dispute.

“Based on what I had heard, the ILA was kind of left out in the cold until the last minute and they should of known they couldn’t agree to that in my opinion. They are not going to agree to put their members out of work,” said McConnell.

McConnell says the Union was never consulted about the ports offer to allow Maersk access to the common yard area, taking jobs away from the ILA. Today, Lawmakers, the ILA, port officials, and Maersk held a special meeting to get everything out on the table.

“We had a frank discussion, we laid out all the positions, we asked what caused them to make the decision they made and they were fore coming on that,” said McConnell.

No agreements but McConnell believes progress is being made. He says a new offer is needed, one to help Maersk stay competitive in a difficult economic times, and keep the ILA from losing jobs. A tall order, but failure to do so could result in a crushing blow to the port and the local economy.

The State Ports Authority also held a special board meeting today. The meeting was mostly in executive session and closed to the public due to contract discussions. McConnell says the two sides will meet again, but a time and date has yet to be set.

December 22, 2008
Reported By Shawn Smetana
ABC News 4

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