Bill would grant states sweeping powers to head off port labour disputes

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Unions have labelled a proposed bill to give politicians more power to end work slowdowns or stoppages  “outrageous and extremist”. On Friday the the US Senate introduced legislation to give state governors the right to invoke federal law to ensure the flow of commerce at ports, by amending the controversial Taft-Hartley Act. The changes, which allow the governors to invoke the same law as the president, come following the recent slowdown and congestion at the west coast ports, which inflicted considerable economic damage. The Taft-Hartley Act was last used in 2002 by President George Bush to stop a 10-day west coast port management lock out.