Contract talks adjourn amid 5th day of port strike

(AP) Contract talks between striking clerical workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and shippers have adjourned for the night.

The walkout has dramatically slowed activity at the nation's busiest cargo complex for the fifth day Saturday as dockworkers refuse to cross picket lines set up by union clerical workers.

A spokesman for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union said talks ran until 9:15 p.m. and were scheduled to resume Sunday morning.

The clerical workers have been without a contract for more than two years. The union contends that terminal operators have outsourced local clerical jobs out of state and overseas. The shippers deny the allegation and say they have offered lifelong job security to the 600 or so full-time clerical workers.