Oakland port shutdown delays shipment of products to CNMI

A labor dispute between West Coast port managers and workers have left Saipan stores empty of bananas and eggs—after shipments were delayed for almost a week due to the shutdown of the Port of Oakland, in California, according to Triple J Five Star Wholesale, which distributes produce to stores across the island.

Saipan Tribune contacted island stores yesterday, after hearing reports from the public that there were no bananas, eggs, and other produce in their stores.

A Hannam Market employee said there had been a shortage of eggs and bananas. Their eggs “just arrived last Sunday, Monday,” he said. They are “still waiting” on bananas, he said.

Staff from Happy Market II in As Lito said their stock for eggs arrived yesterday, after a shortage last week. There were still “no bananas from the mainland,” the staff said. One said they expect their shipment to arrive “by the 16th.”

An employee from XO Market said there was a produce shortage last week, and “eggs came in this week, early Monday.” But there are no bananas yet, she noted.

An I Mart employee also noted the same.

The affected products were only the imports. Local bananas and eggs continued to be available.

Strike delays shipments

In an interview yesterday, Triple J sales manager Esther Yamson pointed to the strike in the Port of Oakland that held back shipments for a week.

She wants to let customers know that shipments are now “on their way” and “in the water.”

She said a shipment of bananas is set to arrive this Sunday, for market Wednesday.

As for eggs and other produce, these stocks are “back to normal,” she said.

She noted a barge from San Francisco had undergone repair, she said.

Shipments were transferred to another barge and were delivered this week, she said.

She also noted that the barge’s repair had affected shipments to Guam as well.

The San Francisco Business Times and San Francisco Chronicle reported last month that managers had shut down the Oakland port, after strife-filled months of labor negotiations between workers and manager came to a head.

A state union had set their monthly meeting during working hours on Feb. 19, Business Times reported. Workers chose to attend.

Times reported that the work stoppage froze the loading and unloading of containers on 12 vessels, and halted export and import activity.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shippers, have failed to agree to a new contract after their prior labor agreement expired last July, according to Business Times.