Industry Redoubles Push for Early Start to West Coast Port Contract Negotiations
Over 100 trade organizations doubled down on a calls for the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) to start early discussions on either a contract extension or a new West Coast ports contract, as the…
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current one is set to expire in 2019. In a letter to PMA and ILWU (here), the groups say a contract extension is vital to ensure stability and predictability at West Coast ports, and call for both parties to make sure that negotiations don’t spur additional port disruptions, advocating the maintenance of arbitration mechanisms in the existing contract throughout negotiations, even if the current contract expires before reaching a new deal. “We fully believe that agreeing early to a contract extension or a new long-term contract will provide the stability and predictability that is needed for global competitiveness that will benefit all stakeholders (labor, terminal operators, cargo owners, etc.) who rely on West Coast ports,” said the groups, which include the National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America, the American Association of Exporters and Importers, and the American Apparel & Footwear Association. A similar industry coalition sent a letter to PMA and ILWU in March also calling for an early start to West Coast port contract negotiations (see 1603160031).