Port's blockbuster deal with Hanjin in trouble, Korean company ready to nix Jax

[CS Foltz]

Ock..........judging by what the so-called Mayor has done to this point and all of his accomplishments, you might be about right! That is about the only thing that he has not tried yet! Strong Leadership is not his forte, but he sure can whip out those "Fee's" when needed! No vision, no plan and no business sense what so ever......that will be his legacy!

[Dog Walker]

Ed Ball BROKE the FEC's union.  Union struck; Ball hired new people.  Union brought in the Federal gov't; Ball stopped running out of Florida.  Union put bombs on tracks and bridges; Ball had inspection trucks run ahead of the trains.  Union picketed for years; Ball lived in the Robert Myers Hotel, enjoyed his Jack Daniels and ignored them.

The man was STUBBORN!

Ock could probably write a book about that sixteen year saga.

[mtraininjax]

This just in, Mayor Peyton visited Little Rock for the world's largest ball of twine spinning competition. While there he spent an official $201.23 and reported back that all other expenses were paid by himself.

To this we say, that John Peyton's our mayor, yes he is.....

[CS Foltz]

Like you say big guy...........is it 2011 yet?

[riverkeepered]

I think it is interesting that the letter from Choi is dated Nov. 16, yet it didn't become public until weeks later.  Jaxport has now had nearly a month to resolve this problem and apparently hasn't been able to do so.  It sounds like the labor dispute on top of the economic situation might have been the excuse that Hanjin was looking for.

[CS Foltz]

riverkeeper.........you do have a point! That date did catch my eye also but my first thought was the City was trying to get the wrinkles ironed out! If the Unions are at the heart of this...........Jaxport is screwed! I would be thinking about how I can return the favor to the Longshoremens Union!

[Joe]

This is neither here nor there ... but are Korean business practices similar to the Japanese?

Because some Japanese businesses will routinely engage in negotiating tactics that the American cultural perspective would consider hostile. Lots of threats break off negotiations, last minute contract changes, etc.

Threatening a city government over a union issue they can't control would be par for the course. But again, I have no idea if Koreans do the same thing.

[Dog Walker]

Well, if they are North Korean they do!  LOL! 

Actually I found the Koreans very direct, honest and honorable in business relationships and negotiations.  The Japanese tended to be IN-direct (oh so careful not to offend), honest and honorable.  They were both among the most demanding, loyal and helpful of my overseas distributors.  We learned a lot from them and really had to tighten our standards and performance to meet their expectations.  Really good folk to do business with.

In my opinion, Hanjin isn't playing some sort of negotiating game.  They are laying out their problems with the deal and basically saying that they don't think the one on our end, the longshoremen, is going to get fixed so they are moving on.

The ball is now in our court and we are going to have to move fast to salvage this deal.

[CS Foltz]

Dog Walker..........I concur! Koreans are very black and white with their business dealings and expect the same from whomever they are doing business with! If the Union is the issue at this end............then John Boy better get things straightened out and quickly or it will be all over with! They do not have to have Jacksonville in order to operate within this hemisphere and Jaxport had better get it straightened quickly!

[tufsu1]

Why/how should the Mayor get involved in detailed union negotiations with port operators?

[copperfiend]

Here we go again.  Peyton, STEP UP or STEP DOWN!  And yes the Mayor should STEP IN in situations such as this.  Are we just going to quietly let this tremendous opportunity slip away and watch Port Canaveral, or Savannah, or Tampa, or Port Everglades get this venture?  Jax needs a spanking if this one gets away!

Next thing we know we'll wake up one morning and the Jaguars will be in LA.

"HU"

But we can still end up with the world's largest collection of hot dog carts on a bridge.

[Dog Walker]

Why/how should the Mayor get involved in detailed union negotiations with port operators?

If nothing else he can use his bully pulpit and his power of appointing JPA Board members and generally causing problems.  SOMEBODY should have taken some leadership in this.  Do you think that Jake Godbold would be just sitting there wringing his hands?

[CS Foltz]

Well tufsu1 John Boy is the Mayor is he not? Leadership is not something that you can buy or trade for......and the Boy Blunder just does not get it.....he has no idea on what to do or how to do it! Just makes me wonder just who is pulling his strings!

[tufsu1]

Well tufsu1 John Boy is the Mayor is he not?

sure...but JPA is an independent authorty!

[mtraininjax]

Why/how should the Mayor get involved in detailed union negotiations with port operators?

Dog - I agree with you, the Mayor needs to do more than what he is doing now, which is nothing. He represents the entire city and his current actions really are pathetic. I sincerely wish someone could shame him into action, but I really don't think he cares, at least based on his actions.