A federal mediator is getting involved in a labor dispute over the unloading of a ship carrying steel parts for the Bay Bridge.
Three days of work on the new eastern span has been lost as a Chinese cargo ship with steel structures for the project sits in the Port of Oakland.
The ship pulled into port Friday, but remains unloaded as state transportation officials, their project contractor and longshore workers try to settle the labor disagreement.
Caltrans hired unions representing iron workers and operating engineers to unload the ship.
But representatives with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union say their workers have the exclusive right to unload ships in the Port of Oakland.
After a meeting with the federal mediator that stretched into Monday evening, the three sides plan to resume talks in the morning.
