NRF urges White House action on West Coast ports

Washington, D.C. – As the Pacific Maritime Association prepares to shut down U.S. West Coast ports from Feb. 13-16, the National Retail Federation (NRF) is issuing a public statement asking for direct White House intervention.



“The continued intransigence by labor and management to reach a new contract is unacceptable,” Jonathan Gold, VP for supply chain, NRF, said in the statement. “Retailers and the rest of the supply chain are frustrated beyond belief.



“The slowdowns need to end. The brinkmanship needs to stop. The ILWU and PMA are delaying cargo and merchandise in the short-term while harming the competitiveness of the West Coast ports in the long-term. This stalemate is hurting American businesses, their employees and consumers.



“If the ILWU and PMA are serious about reaching a new labor contract, they need to remain at the table. It’s time for the White House to immediately engage in this critically-important economic priority and force the two sides to remain at the negotiating table until a deal is done. The time for monitoring has passed. The time for action has come.”