Slowed West Coast Port Operations Expected as Ports Clear Backlog

Despite a tentative agreement between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, it will take some time before the West Coast ports can get up to full speed. "My understanding is that it’s going to take quite some time for the backlog to clear out,” said Sage Chandler, Consumer Electronics Association vice president-international trade. “I’ve heard companies saying they expect things will be slow for another month.” There’s “just so much backlog that’s going to continue to affect things, but companies certainly are breathing a major sigh of relief” that a contract settlement was finally reached, she said. The agreement must be ratified by the two sides (see 1502230002).

CEA is working with the National Retail Federation and others “to put pressure on the Congress and the administration to look at all options and try to come up with a fix” to avoid another ports crisis the next time a labor contract comes up for renewal, Chandler said. “We’re thinking there has to be a better way. What that way is, is something that in the coming weeks we’ll be exploring. We just want to make sure that the attention stays focused on this issue toward coming up with something more permanent.”