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Source: The Atlantic
From the Pueblo Lands blog:
Workers and community members at the gate of Terminal 59, Port of Oakland, leased by SSA (a subsidiary of Carrix, Inc.).A coalition of port workers, including members of the unions SEIU 1021 and Unite HERE, and Oakland residents with the Coalition to Stop Goldman Sachs, plus organizers with Occupy Oakland, picketed the Port of Oakland [last week].
The picket line was “informational” only. Union leaders did not intend to ask other workers, including ILWU longshoremen to not cross the line, a move that would have disrupted a shift and brought operations to a halt. ILWU’s rank and file pride themselves on their solidarity with other unions and routinely do not cross picket lines. Instead, the workers and Oakland residents marching at the port, wanted to make a show of strength, demonstrating their ability to effectively shut a maritime terminal down if they feel the need to do so. They passed out information about their struggle against the Port’s management, and against the financial corporations they say profit from the Port’s current positions in labor negotiations.
More at the Pueblo Lands blog
CNBC reports: 'With corn prices having rallied almost 50 percent since early June, soybean prices up 30 percent and wheat prices having risen some 40 percent, commodity traders like Louis Dreyfus are in for bumper profits.'The U.S. drought sent grain prices to record highs and destroyed a large part of this year’s grain production. Data by the U.S. Agricultural Department on Tuesday showed that soybean condition ratings were at their lowest since 1988. As U.S. grain output is set to disappoint this year, commodity trading firms are focusing on which exporting nation will be the main beneficiary in terms of filling the supply gap and saving the world from a grain shortage.
Margarita Louis-Dreyfus, who has a controlling stake in giant commodities trading firm Louis Dreyfus Commodities, the world’s second-largest wheat, corn and sugar trader, tells CNBC: “Russia had a drought, too, so this time, it will be South America, especially Argentina and Brazil.”
With corn prices having rallied almost 50 percent since early June, soybean prices up 30 percent and wheat prices having risen some 40 percent, commodity traders like Louis Dreyfus are in for bumper profits.
On...
From the Journal of Commerce:
The threat of labor disruptions on the East Coast is fueling a disparity in the direction of spot freight rates for shipments from China to ports on the U.S. West and East Coasts.
While the Shanghai Containerized Freight Index for the trade from Shanghai to the U.S. West Coast increased 5 percent this week to $2,490 per 40-foot-equivalent container unit, it dropped 21 percent to $3,720 for shipments to the East Coast.
Although the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance agreed to a request from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to resume stalled contract
negotiations during the week of Sept. 17, retail importers can’t afford to wait for a possible resolution before the ILA contract expires on Sept. 30.
More at the Journal of Commerce
Source: NY Times
Source: National Nurses United
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