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Oct 23, 2014
ASA and several other members of the West Coast Port Labor Negations Coalition sent a letter this week calling for International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to quickly conclude a new labor agreement.
The letter emphasized that unless addressed soon, the situation will have a broad negative impact on the U.S. and North American economies and the thousands of importers and exporters who rely on the West Coast ports, and their millions of employees and business partners. Members are concerned about the lack of progress in negotiations since August when ILWU and PMA announced a “tentative deal” on health benefits.
“The congestion problems at key West Coast ports in both the U.S. and Canada are getting worse each day, and the absence of a new signed contract between the ILWU and PMA is a significant contributing factor,” the letter states. “Many of the stakeholders that we represent are already experiencing significant adverse effects of delays in moving their cargo.”
ASA and the West Coast Port Labor Negotiations Coalition urge ILWU and PMA to quickly complete the contract negotiations and work to resolve the current congestion issues without further interrupting the flow of commerce.
Click here to read the entire letter.
