White House joins Los Angeles mayor in calling for a quick end to port strike

Brian Watt/KPCC

Striking clerical workers at Pier 400 walk the picket lines Thursday at the Port of Los Angeles.

The White House joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa in urging a quick end to a strike that's shut down much of the nation's busiest port complex for eight days.

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Clerical workers on Tuesday are continuing their walkout at 10 LA and Long Beach terminals. The workers claim shippers are outsourcing their jobs – a claim that the shippers deny. Dockworkers are refusing to cross their picket lines.

LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa held a late-night meeting Monday with both sides but there's been no breakthrough in contract talks. Villaraigosa says the strike is costing the local economy billions.

Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney says the president is closely monitoring the situation and is urging both sides to quickly reach agreement.