No Reported Progress on Calif. Port Strike; 'National Emergency' Seen by Retailers

The Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach strike "is now at the national emergency stage impacting industries far and wide," said National Retail Federation President Matthew Shay, renewing his request that President Obama intervene in the strike. There was no reported resolution of the strike of clerical workers and longshoremen (see ITT's Online Archives 12120317) at our deadline.

Shay said the shutdown "is already having a significant negative economic impact on retailers trying to bring in merchandise for their final push for holiday sales and will soon have an impact on consumers. The work stoppage not only impacts retailers, but is also affecting their product vendors -- many of which are small businesses -- and other industries like manufacturers and agricultural exporters that rely on the ports." (here)

Meanwhile, CargoTrans was telling customers the walkout "has dramatically slowed activity at the nation's busiest cargo complex as dockworkers refuse to cross picket lines set up by union clerical workers." Trade groups are also "warily monitoring an ongoing labor dispute between the International Longshoremen's Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance which could affect ports from Maine to Texas, it said (here).