Trade Groups Urge Biden Admin to Help With Port Negotiations
Trade groups this week called on the Biden administration to intervene in labor negotiations between dockworkers and West Coast marine terminals, saying a prolonged breakdown in talks could lead to severe port disruptions (see 2306050077).
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It is "imperative" that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association return to the negotiating table and "quickly finalize a new contract," David French, senior vice president of government relations for the National Retail Federation, said June 5. French said any disruptions to ports on the West Coast will "force retailers and other important shipping partners to continue to shift cargo away from the West Coast ports" until a new labor contract is finalized. "We urge the administration to mediate to ensure the parties quickly finalize a new contract without additional disruptions."
The American Apparel and Footwear Association -- which signed a letter along with the NRF in March urging the Biden administration to help the negotiations move forward (see 2303270032) -- again urged the administration to help mediate contract talks between the two parties. CEO Steve Lamar noted on June 6 that negotiations have "dragged on for more than 11 months since the last agreement expired," and despite progress "on some elements of the contracts, there appears to be stalled progress towards a new long-term agreement."
Lamar added that port closures create "backups that immediately impact the delivery of goods to stores and warehouses, which will adversely impact American consumers, workers, and businesses." While the AAFA applauds the "engagement from the former Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh" in the negotiations, it's time for the Biden administration to "accelerate efforts to keep all parties at the table for speedy and fair resolution."
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration is monitoring the situation "very closely," but said "negotiations are very hard." She told reporters June 5 that both the PMA and ILWU have "overcome some major sticking points already and are continuing to address [the] most difficult issues right now," and the administration will "continue to encourage all parties to work in good faith toward a mutually beneficial resolution that ensures that workers get" the wages and benefits "they deserve. And that’s what we believe that we’re going to continue to be very vocal about."