NRF and others urge quick resolution to labor negotions on West Coast ports

New York --A group of 104 national, state and local organizations--representing farmers, manufacturers, retailers, transportation providers and others--signed a letter urging the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) “to quickly conclude a new labor agreement...to allay growing concerns of thousands of businesses who rely on West Coast ports for orderly and timely supply chain operations.”



The letter authored, distributed and organized by the National Federation and signed by the American Apparel & Footwear Association, American Farm Bureau, Consumer Electronics Association, National Association of Manufacturers, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others follows a letter NRF sent ealier this month to the ILWU and PMA, which pointed to increasing congestion concerns along the West Coast ports.



“As you know retailers began instituting costly contingency plans in early 2014 to ensure that merchandise would reach stores in time for the critical holiday shopping season, NRF president and CEO Matt Shay stated in the letter. “The current congestion at West Coast ports has eviscerated those preparations in many cases which may cause critical merchandise to miss target on-sale dates.”



Shay called finalizing a new labor contract as an absolutely critical component to working through the backlog of shipping containers now piling up at West Coast ports. “We are deeply troubled by the fact that no apparent progress has been made in the negotiations since August, when the PMA and ILWU announced a “tentative deal” on health benefits,” he stated. “Whether intentional or not, the fact that neither the PMA nor ILWU has made any public progress report in more than a month is sending a very troublesome and disconcerting signal."