161 US shippers’ associations jointly wrote to the White House about the US East Coast port strike

On Tuesday (25th), 161 trade groups representing US shippers, including the US Chamber of Commerce, the National Retail Federation (NRF), the Sulfur and Fertilizer Institute, and the Halloween and Costume Association, jointly wrote to the White House, asking the Biden administration to “provide any and all support to the negotiating parties so that they can reach a final agreement before the current contract expires.”

The reason why these US manufacturers, distributors, retailers and trade groups jointly appealed to the Biden administration is that they hope the Biden administration will help restart the deadlocked contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Union (USMX).

It is understood that the current six-year master contract between the union representing 45,000 dock workers on the East Coast and Gulf Coast of the United States and the United States Maritime Union (USMX) will expire on September 30 this year.

Although the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Union (USMX) hoped to begin master contract negotiations in the summer after local ports conclude talks, the International Longshoremen’s Association previously suspended labor contract talks with the USMX that were scheduled for June 11, citing the automation dispute.