Excerpts from the Journal of Commerce:
Without a finalized contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and waterfront employers, shippers fear a labor meltdown — like the one in 2002 that shut down the West Coast for 10 days in a management-led lockout. The point was made in a letter from Retail Industry Leaders Association President Sandra Kennedy to ILWU President Robert McEllrath and Pacific Maritime Association President and CEO James McKenna.
“While goods continue to move at an efficient rate through the West Coast ports of entry, each day without a finalized agreement jeopardizes the movement of goods destined for shelves during the all-important holiday season,” Kennedy said. “With the continued uncertainty of a finalized contract, retailers will continue to search out more reliable channels in the interest of preserving the viability of their supply chains.”