More supply chain disruption looming
Retailers looking to replenish inventories depleted by solid holiday sales are facing a new impediment at West Coast ports.
Reuters is reporting that unions are orchestrating work slowdowns to exacerbate an already gridlocked situation at the busy port.
The Pacific Maritime Association said the region's five largest ports, including Los Angeles and Long Beach, had seen backups "approaching complete gridlock," as contentious contract talks with the dockworkers union have stalled.
Union officials, however, have consistently denied staging slowdowns, saying decisions made by management including cutting back on night crews were responsible for the gridlock.
A federal mediator is currently involved in the negotiations between the association and the union, which represents some 20,000 dockworkers. The workers' latest contract expired on June 30.