Longshoremen at one of the Port of Oakland's four active marine terminals walked off the job Thursday morning in response to nooses being found on the property in recent weeks, union officials said.
The walkout by longshoremen at the Oakland International Container Terminal, which is operated by SSA Marine at 1717 Middle Harbor Road, means that the terminal had to suspend its operations, Port of Oakland spokesman Mike Zampa said.
However, Zampa said SSA Marine and the port are working to re-start operations at the terminal before the end of the day.
He said there was some activity at the terminal as of early Thursday afternoon and the backup of trucks outside the terminal appeared to be decreasing.
Robert McEllrath, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, said in a statement, "The display of hangmen's nooses for the second time in two weeks at the worksite are inexcusable and expressly prohibited conduct under the terms of the collective bargaining unit."
"The union is committed to securing a non-discriminatory work environment for all individuals working at the ports," McEllrath said.
He said, "We reject in the strongest possible terms racism in all its forms" and "this matter is being vigorously investigated."
