Over 200 Trade Groups Urge Biden to Speed Agreement Between ILWU and PMA

The Biden administration should "quickly" help the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association reach a new labor agreement to "ensure there is no disruption" to the operations of U.S. ports on the West Coast, more than 200 trade groups wrote in a March 24 letter to the White House. Because Marty Walsh left as secretary of the Department of Labor in February, it's crucial that a "new administration point person" be designated to help negotiations continue, the groups said.

Many "cargo interests" have shifted their cargo away from West Coast ports "because of the uncertainty" related to the labor talks, said the letter, signed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation, the American Trucking Associations and others. "The longer there is no ratified contract only increases the probability that some portion of the freight will never return to the West Coast ports," the letter said.

And even though port workers have "agreed not to engage in a strike or a lockout," the trade groups said they are "aware of several instances of activities that have impacted terminal operations. We need the administration to ensure these activities do not continue or escalate." The Biden administration should "provide any and all support to the parties in their negotiations to reach a final agreement." The White House didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

This letter comes after a similar request from trade groups last July that urged the administration to help West Coast ports and their dockworkers’ union extend their current contract until a new one is reached (see 2207010036). One industry official at the time said he was disappointed with the negotiations but would be "stunned" if it caused disruptions on the West Coast (see 2207140062).