NGFA joined a coalition of industry groups to call on President Joe Biden to intervene in labor negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).
The labor contract that oversees all maritime container ports along the East and Gulf coasts is set to expire on Sept. 30 and the ILA has warned of a possible coastwide strike if a new agreement is not reached by Oct. 1.
“With two weeks left until the ILA-USMX contract expires and the ongoing threat of a coastwide strike beginning on Oct. 1, it is imperative that the administration engage with the parties to quickly negotiate a new deal or agree to continue negotiations while keeping the ports open and cargo flowing,” the Sept. 17 letter stated.
The coalition emphasized the urgency of getting both parties back to the bargaining table to prevent disruptions to port operations.
“A strike at this point in time would have a devastating impact on the economy, especially as inflation is on the downward trend,” the letter noted. “The administration needs to provide any and all support to the parties in their negotiations. In addition, the administration needs to be ready to step in if a strike or other action occurs that leads to a coastwide shutdown or disruption.”
In the letter, the groups cited the administration’s previous interventions in various labor negotiations, such as those involving the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) on the West Coast, Class I railroads, and the UPS-Teamsters agreement, as successful examples of mediation without major disruptions.
“At this critical juncture, it is imperative that the parties return to the table without engaging in disruptive activities that could harm the economy and the millions of businesses, workers and consumers who rely on the seamless flow of goods, both imports and exports, through our East Coast and Gulf Coast ports,” the groups concluded.