LOS ANGELES (CNS) - The Port of Los Angeles today offered drive-through COVID-19 testing to hundreds of longshore workers and Pacific Maritime Association employees.
The testing was coordinated by Mayor Eric Garcetti's office and the Los Angeles Fire Department with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and PMA, according to the port. Testing was done at the ILWU hiring hall in Wilmington.
“Through the leadership of Mayor Garcetti, Los Angeles FireDepartment Chief Ralph Terrazas and Los Angeles Port Police Chief Tom Gazsi, I'm so proud that the Port of Los Angeles can play an important role in providing for the health and safety of these critical workers,'' said Gene Seroka, the Port of Los Angeles executive director.
“We are particularly grateful to ILWU Local 13 President Ramon Ponce de Leon, Local 63 President Mike Podue and Local 94 President Danny Miranda for leading the way on this groundbreaking event,'' Seroka added.
LAFD Capt. Chad Rolish said the results of the tests should come back to the port workers within 24 to 36 hours.
“ILWU's Locals 13, 63 and 94 that work here at the Port of L.A. and Long Beach, we had a concern ... that we were seeing a spike with COVID-19 positives with our members,'' Podue said in a prerecorded video on the testing. “The concern was with our members being essential workers that we didn't want to affect the flow of cargo in the ports.''
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