Americas News
Shippers Turn to Government Over Fears of U.S. West Coast Port Shutdown
A wider U.S. coalition which also includes shippers has turned to the federal government for intervention over fears that prolonged labour negotiations will lead to a wide-scale shutdown of U.S. West coast ports, JOC reports .
The group is calling for a federally-appointed mediator to help in the discussion between The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and employer representatives Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), who have been in tense bargaining since this summer.
"The sudden change in tone is alarming and suggests that a full shutdown of every West Coast port may be imminent," wrote the coalition in a letter addressed to President Obama.
Officially, the previous labour contract expired July 1, but tensions significantly rose this week after the PMA released a statement condemning the union for potentially having "crippled operations" at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach by withholding labour.
""The ILWU's orchestrated job actions are threatening the West Coast's busiest ports and potentially billions of dollars in commerce," said the PMA.
Mounting congestion has also been a problem in Southern California ports due to factors such as rising cargo volumes, according to the PMA, who used it as ammo for why the union should return to work.
The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach previously went on an eight-day strike in 2012, which cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
