Protesters Halt Operations At Some Western Ports
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Wall Street protesters' attempts to block gates at some of the West Coast's busiest ports have led to the partial shutdown of docks in California, Oregon and Washington state.
The closures affected some of the terminals at the three ports, but it wasn't immediately clear how much the shutdowns would affect operations.
In Oakland, Calif., shipping companies and the longshoremen's union agreed to send home about 150 workers, essentially halting operations at two terminals.
Longshoremen's union spokesman Craig Merrilees said Monday that shipping companies agreed with workers' concerns that the protests were creating unsafe working conditions.
Workers in unaffected parts of the port remained on the job.
Port spokesman Isaac Kos-Read says the facility remains largely operational.
It's unclear whether the longshoremen will be paid for the missed work. Union officials say longshoremen were not paid after Occupy Oakland protesters blockaded the port Nov. 2.
Protesters cheered when they learned about the partial shutdown, then dispersed. Another march on the port is planned later in the day.
In Long Beach, only one arrest was reported as about 200 demonstrators gathered Monday morning near a shipping terminal at the Port of Long Beach which is one of the world's largest ports.
Police forced the demonstrators out of a parking lot but several dozen regrouped and briefly blocked a major roadway, backing up a line of trucks heading to the port.
Heavy rain dampened the protest and the demonstrators, who were flanked by dozens of police, have now moved off, effectively making a peaceful end to a four-hour protest.
Port spokesman John Pope says other routes are available and disruption has been minimal.
Further south in San Diego, authorities say four demonstrators have been arrested for blocking a road near the entrance to San Diego's cargo port.
Port of San Diego spokesman Ron Powell said demonstrators sat on the road's rail crossing, about 1½ blocks from the port entrance, Monday morning. They were detained after refusing to leave.
The arrests were made by the city's police and harbor police departments.
Powell says as many as 80 demonstrators gathered earlier in the day at another location near the port entrance. The crowd dispersed when traffic started to pick up.
The port says commercial operations have been unaffected.
In Portland, Ore., authorities shuttered two terminals after arresting two people who were carrying weapons and said they were heading to the protest.
And in Longview, Wash., workers were sent home out of concerns for their "health and safety."
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
