LA wants port workers to get the COVID-19 vaccine first
Los Angeles politicians believe waterfront workers should get first-round COVID-19 vaccinations as cases across the United States continue to spike.
By Michael McGrady, Maritime Direct Americas Correspondent
The City Council for Los Angeles, Calif., in the US, recently ratified a new resolution backing any legislation that prioritizes the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine doses for waterfront workers employed in and around the city’s major container port.
The Port of Los Angeles (LA) is the country’s largest container seaport by volume.
Adjoining it is the second-largest port, the Port of Long Beach. The two terminals make up most of the land held on Terminal Island — an artificial industrial isle shared between the city governments of LA and Long Beach.
Economic impact
Compared to other significant terminals in North America, the ports located in high-urban Southern California are substantial components of the US and North America’s import market.
Data published by JOC Group show that North American inbound container trade in 2018 at the ports in LA and Long Beach exceeded a combined volume of 8.8 million TEU.
Year over year, the rate of import rose 5.3 percent while also representing nearly 30 percent of North America’s overall inbound container trade.
Employment for half-million people is supported by the Port of Los Angeles, with 1.6 million jobs supported internationally.
Employee safety considerations
With the economic impact considered, lawmakers on the Los Angeles City Council found justification to support COVID-19 vaccine distribution to waterfront workers and maritime services professionals.
The council introduced the resolution on December 15, 2020. On Tuesday, January 26, 2021, the council unanimously approved the resolution.
“The maritime industry has continued to operate throughout the global COVID-19 pandemic despite major disruptions to global supply chains,” the resolution reads, noting that “the Port of Los Angeles is a linchpin in the economic vitality of multiple critical infrastructure sectors locally and nationally.”
“The health and safety of waterfront workers is crucial for the continued recovery from the economic devastation wrought by the global pandemic,” the resolution adds.
Statewide concerns
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti now has the responsibility to sign the declaration into law, making it the city’s official policy position.
The resolution also comes as industry, labor, and political leaders in California are collectively lobbying to kickstart a statewide initiative to vaccinate dockworkers and waterfront professionals.
Splash 24/7 reports that roughly 700 dockworkers at the ports in LA and Long Beach have contracted the COVID-19 infection, with hundreds more having taken virus-related leaves of absence.
