Longshoremen Strike Delayed Until At Least Dec. 29, as FMCS Talks Continue

Extending the longshoremen's contract for 90 additional days was agreed Sept. 20 by the International Longshoremen's Association and the U.S. Maritime Exchange, representing shipping and port interests, said Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service Director George Cohen after talks closed Sept. 20. The extension is until Dec. 29, he said.

"In taking this significant step, the parties emphasized that they are doing so 'for the good of the country' to avoid any interruption in interstate commerce," Cohen said: "This extension will provide the parties an opportunity to focus on the outstanding core issues in a deliberate manner apart from the pressure of an immediate deadline. The negotiations on the Master Agreement will be conducted during the same time frame as negotiations for local agreements."

The negotiations will continue under the auspices of the FMCS, Cohen said: "Due to the sensitive nature of these high profile negotiations, we will have no further comment on the schedule for the negotiations, their location, or the substance of what takes place during those negotiations."

The extension of talks was applauded by the National Retail Federation (here). Vice President-Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold called it "a significant step forward, and signals that both sides -- labor and management -- are serious about reaching a deal. ... This extension should provide for a stable holiday shipping and shopping season over the next few months." But he said "it is still critically important that USMX and ILA remain at the negotiation table to hammer out a final contract. Until a final contract is ratified, America's retail community will remain concerned."