George Bush comments on port dispute on West Coast

(8 Oct 2002)

POOL
Washington DC, 8 October 2002
1. President Bush and entourage walk up to microphones in garden at the White House
2. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"Because the operation of Western ports is vital to our economy, and to our military, I have determined that the current situation imperils our national health and safety. I have appointed a board of inquiry to investigate the issues at stake. Today the board submitted an official report stating each party's position. I am now directing Attorney General Ashcroft to seek an injunction under the Taft-Hartley Act, ending the lock-out, and requiring work at the ports to resume at a normal pace. This dispute between management and labour cannot be allowed to further harm the economy."

APTN FILE
Long Beach California, 1 October 2002
3. Various of docks sitting idle
4. Pan from shipping company sign to strikers chanting
5. Strikers marching and chanting

POOL
Washington DC, 8 October, 2002
6. Cutaway journalists
7. Wide shot Bush at podium speaking
8. SOUNDBITE: (English) George W. Bush, US President:
"The work stoppage is hurting our entire economy. It is hurting truckers and rail operators who carry goods to other parts of America. It's hurting farmers and ranchers and manufacturers, retailers and consumers, who make, buy and sell the products that pass through our ports. The crisis in our Western ports is hurting the economy. It is hurting the security of our country. And the Federal Government must act."
9. Wide shot Bush walks away from the podium and up towards the White House

STORYLINE:

U-S President George W Bush directed government lawyers on Tuesday to go to court to seek a temporary truce in a bitter ten-day labour dispute that has closed West Coast ports and cost the fragile economy as much as 2 (b) billion U-S dollars a day.

Bush said goods vital to the U-S military are being held up by the shutdown.

The politically charged decision marks the first presidential move in a quarter of a century to intervene in a labour dispute under the Taft-Hartley Act.

Justice Department lawyers were preparing court papers to seek the reopening of the ports.

A court-ordered cooling-off period, which would last 80 days, would keep the ports open during the crucial Christmas season, in which retailers rely on imported goods to stock their shelves.

Bush announced the decision after a flurry of behind-the-scenes negotiations intended to head off the action.

The longshoremen's union at 29 West Coast ports agreed on Tuesday to return to work under a 30-day contract extension.

But it was unclear whether shipping lines were ready to accept the federally brokered deal.

The trade-off for the Bush administration is that a favourable court decision could energise organised labour, traditionally a Democratic ally, just four weeks before midterm elections.

Democratic candidates rely on heavy turnout from union workers, and some presidential advisers fear Bush's intervention will drive angry labour voters to the polls.

Nevertheless, White House advisers welcomed the chance to deflect questions about Bush's handling of the economy.

Polls show a growing number of voters want Bush to spend more time talking about the economy than Iraq.

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