Port of Baltimore workers seek immediate help weeks after Key Bridge collapse

'We need the relief now. If the relief comes after the channel's open ... what good is it?'

'We need the relief now. If the relief comes after the channel's open ... what good is it?'

UNION PRESIDENT, WHAT DID HE TELL YOU? WELL, YOU KNOW, SOME PORT WORKERS ARE STILL WAITING ON RELIEF PROGRAMS TO EVEN LAUNCH. THEY HAVEN’T QUITE GONE OUT THERE YET. MEANTIME, THIS UNION PRESIDENT, HE SAYS HE’S CONCERNED THAT THESE FUNDS ARE GOING TO TAKE SO LONG TO COME TO FRUITION. THAT’S JUST GOING TO LEAVE THESE WORKERS WITHOUT PAY. IN A CASE LIKE THIS, RELIEF NEEDS TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER. AND IT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENED BY NOW, THREE WEEKS SINCE THE KEY BRIDGE COLLAPSE AND PAY CHECKS HAVE NOT HIT PORT WORKERS POCKETS. WE HAVE LOST SOME JOBS AND THE CARGO IS IS DIMINISHED DOWN IN THE TERMINALS. SO IT’S GOTTEN EVEN SLOWER. MORE LAYOFFS HAVE HAPPENED AND IT’S GOING TO CONTINUE TO GO IN THAT DIRECTION. SCOTT COWAN REPRESENTS THOUSANDS OF WORKERS. HE’S EXPECTING MORE MEETINGS ON THE PORT ACT TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. THE EMERGENCY LEGISLATION AUTHORIZES THE USE OF THE STATE’S RAINY DAY FUND TO HELP WORKERS. BUT COWAN WANTS TO SEE MOVEMENT ON ACTUAL DISTRIBUTION OF FUNDS TO PORT WORKERS. AS WE’RE GOING TO SEE WHAT YOU KNOW, BENEFITS IT HAS TOWARDS US, THE LONGSHOREMEN IN PARTICULAR. AND I MEAN, THERE’S OTHER THINGS THAT, YOU KNOW, BUSINESSES AND STUFF LIKE THAT AND WORKER RETENTION THAT IT’S IN THE ACT THAT WE HAVE TO SEE HOW THAT ROLLS OUT. COWAN HAS SAID SINCE THE BRIDGE COLLAPSED, THE PORT OF BALTIMORE WORKERS WILL NEED 4 TO 6 WEEKS OF RELIEF. AND WHILE UNEMPLOYMENT RESOURCES HAVE SET UP AT THEIR HIRING HALL, THE ONLY MAJOR RELIEF THEY’VE RECEIVED IS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL ALLIANCE. HE’S PUSHING FOR ACTION. NOW, WHEN THE FUNDS ARE ESPECIALLY NEEDED. THE PROBLEM IS, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THE RELIEF NOW. AND IF THE RELIEF COMES AFTER THE CHANNELS OPEN, IT’S REALLY WHAT GOOD IS IT? WE’RE EXPECTING THREE MORE RELIEF PROGRAMS AUTHORIZED UNDER THE PORT ACT TO LAUNCH THIS COMING MONDAY. THERE’S ALSO THE MARYLAND BALTIMORE STRONG KEY BRIDGE FUND. I SPOKE WITH THOSE BEHIND THAT TODAY, AND THEY SAY THEY’RE STILL FIGURING OUT LOGISTICS BEFORE MAKING DIRECT CASH AVAILABLE FOR NOW. LI

Port of Baltimore workers seek immediate help weeks after Key Bridge collapse

'We need the relief now. If the relief comes after the channel's open ... what good is it?'

It has been a rough few weeks for port workers in Baltimore after the March 26 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.Thousands of workers remain without work due to the collapse. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed the Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade (PORT) Act into law to provide immediate relief, but those impacted said it's taking too long."In a case like this, relief needs to happen sooner than later, and it should've happened by now," said Scott Cowan, president of the International Longshoremen's Association Local No. 333, which represents thousands of workers.Three weeks have passed since the bridge collapsed and paychecks have not hit port workers' pockets."We have lost some jobs and the cargo is diminished down in the terminals. It's gotten even slower. More layoffs have happened, and it's going to continue to go in that direction," Cowan told 11 News.Cowan said he expects more meetings on the PORT Act to come. The emergency legislation authorizes the use of the state's Rainy Day Fund to help workers, but Cowan wants to see movement on actual distribution of funds to port workers."We're going to see what benefits it has towards us, the longshoremen in particular, and there's other things -- businesses and stuff like that, worker retention -- that's in the act. We have to see how that rolls out," Cowan said.Cowan said the Port of Baltimore workers will need four to six weeks of relief since the collapse. And, while unemployment resources are available at their hiring hall, the only major relief they've received is from an international alliance. He's pushing for action now when the funds are especially needed."The problem is, we need the relief now. If the relief comes after the channel's open, it's really, what good is it?" Cowan said.Three more relief programs authorized under the PORT Act are expected to launch Monday.There's also the Maryland Tough, Baltimore Strong Key Bridge fund. The team behind the fund said they're still figuring out logistics before making direct cash available to port workers.

BALTIMORE —

It has been a rough few weeks for port workers in Baltimore after the March 26 collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

Thousands of workers remain without work due to the collapse. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore signed the Maryland Protecting Opportunities and Regional Trade (PORT) Act into law to provide immediate relief, but those impacted said it's taking too long.

"In a case like this, relief needs to happen sooner than later, and it should've happened by now," said Scott Cowan, president of the International Longshoremen's Association Local No. 333, which represents thousands of workers.

Three weeks have passed since the bridge collapsed and paychecks have not hit port workers' pockets.

"We have lost some jobs and the cargo is diminished down in the terminals. It's gotten even slower. More layoffs have happened, and it's going to continue to go in that direction," Cowan told 11 News.

Cowan said he expects more meetings on the PORT Act to come. The emergency legislation authorizes the use of the state's Rainy Day Fund to help workers, but Cowan wants to see movement on actual distribution of funds to port workers.

"We're going to see what benefits it has towards us, the longshoremen in particular, and there's other things -- businesses and stuff like that, worker retention -- that's in the act. We have to see how that rolls out," Cowan said.

Cowan said the Port of Baltimore workers will need four to six weeks of relief since the collapse. And, while unemployment resources are available at their hiring hall, the only major relief they've received is from an international alliance. He's pushing for action now when the funds are especially needed.

"The problem is, we need the relief now. If the relief comes after the channel's open, it's really, what good is it?" Cowan said.

Three more relief programs authorized under the PORT Act are expected to launch Monday.

There's also the Maryland Tough, Baltimore Strong Key Bridge fund. The team behind the fund said they're still figuring out logistics before making direct cash available to port workers.

WBAL-TV\Daniel Francois

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