Shipping association claims dockworkers slowing work

SAN FRANCISCO -- Shipping companies say they have supplied the Justice Department with evidence that dockworkers are engaged in a deliberate slowdown at the nation's West Coast ports.

The longshoremen's union has denied the charges and blamed sagging productivity on the 10-day lockout that ended earlier this month when President Bush obtained a court injunction.

Federal prosecutors could use the evidence of a slowdown to take the union to court and have it fined or otherwise sanctioned for violating the injunction.

The union "is playing games with the U.S. economy, and inflicting economic pain and hardship on scores of companies and their employees," said Joseph Miniace, president of the Pacific Maritime Association.

Miniace blamed deliberate undermanning and coordinated sick-ins for the slowdown. Association officials refused a request that they share a copy of the filing.

A spokesman for the 10,500-member union said it welcomes the filing because the union now has a chance to debunk the industry's charges.

"It's one thing to throw a bunch of numbers out in the press. It's another thing to go to court, where such things as rules of evidence apply, where cross-examination applies," union spokesman Steve Stallone said.

The Justice Department received the documents over the weekend and asked both sides for provide further information by Friday.