West Coast Port Labor Negotiations Coalition Letter to President Biden Final 070122
Published
July 08, 2022
July 1, 2022
The Honorable Joseph R. Biden
President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Biden,
On behalf of the undersigned organizations, and the millions of businesses and employees we represent, we are writing to you regarding the ongoing West Coast port labor negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association. With the contract set to expire today, we urge the administration to continue to work with the parties to reach a new agreement without any disruption to port operations.
Thank you for recently meeting with the parties to discuss these negotiations. We appreciate the June 14th joint statement as a result of that meeting. In that statement, the parties state that cargo operations will continue beyond the contract expiration and that neither party is preparing for a strike or a lockout. However, we believe an immediate extension of the current contract is just as important and will provide assurance to the millions of businesses, workers and consumers who rely on the West Coast ports.
We know that there are significant issues for both parties that need to be worked out during this contract negotiation. The only way to resolve these issues is for the parties to remain at the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith. Extending the current contract would provide additional certainty to all of the supply chain stakeholders that rely on the U.S. West Coast ports. This is even more important as we continue to experience supply chain disruptions and congestion for a variety of reasons.
As we enter the all-important peak shipping season, we continue to expect cargo flows to remain at all-time highs, putting further stress on the supply chain and increasing inflation. Many expect these challenges to continue through the rest of the year. Even with the recent joint statement, supply chain stakeholders remain concerned about the potential for disruption, especially without a contract or an extension in place. Unfortunately, this concern stems from a long history of disruptions during previous negotiations.
We know the administration understands the economic significance of these negotiations. As such, we encourage the administration to provide any and all support to the parties to reach a final conclusion of their negotiations.
In particular, while the parties seek to reach a final agreement, the administration should work with the parties to:
1) Extend the current contract until a final contract is reached;
2) Commit to remain at the negotiating table and negotiate in good faith; and
3) Agree to not engage in any kind of activity that leads to further disruption at the ports. The only way the parties can reach an agreement that will ensure the continued competitiveness of the ports and those who rely upon them is to remain at the table until a new agreement is finalized. Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.
Sincerely,
Agricultural Council of Arkansas
Agricultural Retailers Association
Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration
Institute
Alabama Cotton Commission
Amcot
American Apparel & Footwear Association
(AAFA)
American Chemistry Council
American Clean Power Association
American Composites Manufacturers
Association
American Cotton Producers
American Cotton Shippers Association
American Down and Feather Council
American Farm Bureau Federation
American Forest & Paper Association
American Foundry Society
American Herbal Products Association
American Home Furnishings Alliance
American Lighting Association
American Seed Trade Association
American Trucking Associations
Arkansas Cotton Warehouse Association
Associated Builders and Contractors
Association of Equipment Manufacturers
Association of Food Industries
Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers
(AHAM)
Auto Care Association
Autos Drive America
Beer Institute
Building Service Contractors Association
International (BSCAI)
California Business Properties Association
California Chamber of Commerce
California Cotton Ginners & Growers
Association
California Farm Bureau
California Retailers Association
California Rice Commission
California Trucking Association
Can Manufacturers Institute
CAWA – Representing the Automotive Parts
Industry
Coalition of New England Companies for
Trade (CONECT)
Colorado Potato Administrative Committee
Columbia River Customs Brokers and
Forwarders Assn.
Consumer Brands Association
Consumer Technology Association
Cotton Growers Warehouse Association
Cotton Warehouse Association of America
Cottonseed and Feed Association
Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
Customs Brokers Freight Forwarders Assn of
Northern California
Customs Brokers and International Freight Forwarders
Association of Washington State (CBIFFAWS)
Delta Council
Distilled Spirits Council of the United States
Fashion Accessories Shippers Association
Fashion Jewelry and Accessories Trade Association
Florida Cotton Producers Association
Florida Farm Bureau
FMI – The Food Industry Association
Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA)
Foreign Trade Association
Gemini Shippers Association
Georgia Cotton Commission
Global Cold Chain Alliance
Green Coffee Association
Halloween & Costume Association
Harbor Trucking Association
Hardwood Federation
Home Fashion Products Association
Idaho Potato Commission
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference
International Casual Furnishings Association
International Foodservice Distributors Association
International Fresh Produce Association
International Housewares Association
International Warehouse Logistics Association
(IWLA)
ISSA - The Worldwide Cleaning Industry
Association
Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association
Kansas Cotton Association
Leather & Hide Council of America
Littler Workplace Policy Institute
Los Angeles Customs Brokers & Freight
Forwarders Association
Maine Potato Board
Meat Import Council of America
Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation
Motor & Equipment Manufacturers
Association (MEMA)
Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC)
National Association of Chemical Distributors
(NACD)
National Association of Manufacturers
National Association of Wholesalers
National Confectioners Association
National Cotton Council
National Cottonseed Products Association
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives
National Electrical Manufacturers Association
(NEMA)
National Fisheries Institute
National Industrial Transportation League
(NITL)
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Milk Producers Federation
National Oilseed Processors Association
National Sporting Goods Association
National Pork Producers Council
National Potato Council
National Retail Federation
National Sorghum Producers
Natural Products Association
New York New Jersey Foreign Freight
Forwarders & Brokers Association
North American Association of Food
Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM)
North American Home Furnishings
Association
North American Meat Institute
North Carolina Cotton Producers
Northwest Horticultural Council
Oklahoma Cotton Council
Oregon Business & Industry
Oregon Retail Council
Outdoor Industry Association
Outdoor Power Equipment Institute
Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and
Freight Forwarders Assn. (PCC)
Pet Advocacy Network
Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc.
Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.
Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI)
Promotional Products Association International (PPAI)
Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA)
Retail Association of Nevada
Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)
Rolling Plains Cotton Growers
San Diego Customs Brokers and Freight
Forwarders Assn.
San Joaquin Valley Quality Cotton Growers Association
SNAC International
Society of Chemical Manufacturers and
Affiliates (SOCMA)
South Texas Cotton and Grain Association
Southern Cotton Growers
Southern Kansas Cotton Growers Cooperative
Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers
Southwest Council of Agribusiness
Specialty Equipment Market Association
Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA)
Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)
St. Lawrence Cotton Growers
Tea Association of the U.S.A.
Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation
Toy Association
Travel Goods Association (TGA)
United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA)
U.S. Apple Association
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
U.S. Dairy Export Council
USA Rice
Vinyl Institute
Washington Retail Association
Washington State Potato Commission
Washington State Tree Fruit Association
Washington Trucking Associations
Western Agricultural Processors Association
Western Peanut Growers Association
Window & Door Manufacturers Association
Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
Wine Institute
CC: Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation
Secretary Marty Walsh, Department of Labor
Secretary Gina Raimondo, Department of Commerce