Monday, November 10, 2014
More than 100 trade groups appeal to President Obama to intervene in West Coast port labor talks
On Thursday a large group of associations representing U.S. manufacturers, farmers, wholesalers, retailers, importers, exporters, and transportation and logistics providers wrote a letter to President Barack Obama, expressing worry that current disruptions at West Coast ports could escalate into a complete shutdown and asking for federal intervention.
The letter to the president was signed by more than 100 organizations, including the Agriculture Transportation Coalition, the National Retail Federation, the American Trucking Associations, the Customs Brokers and Forwarders Assoc. of Northern California, the Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders of Washington State, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The group said they were concerned about a breakdown in current contract negotiations for dockworkers at West Coast ports, whose contract expired July 1.
While the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association stated earlier this year that they would continue operations throughout the negotiations, the letter cited crisis levels of congestion at the ports that have disrupted the flow of goods since September. They voiced worries about the sudden change in tone from the ILWU and the PMA, who have observed mutual silence throughout the talks, but just recently issued press releases accusing each other of reneging on this commitment.
The organizations said they want to see an agreement reached without any shutdowns or further disruptions, and think that "immediate action is necessary and the federal government should intervene" to head off a shut-down and keep the parties at the table.
The letter asks that federal measures be implemented, including asking parties to work with a federal mediator or having the FMCS monitor the negotiations. The associations said that if a strike or lockout occurs, the consequences would warrant the president invoking the Taft-Hartley Act.
The group said the mere worry that a full shutdown of every West Coast port may occur is creating high levels of uncertainty in a fragile economic climate, forcing businesses to undertake contingency plans that come at a significant cost to jobs and the U.S. economy.
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