According to CNBC and CNN, Labor slowdowns by the ILWU union on the West Coast are causing delays in container pick-ups and impacting the movement of vessels at the ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland. The lack of port productivity is leading to longer wait times for containers and increased time for unloading and loading vessels. The White House is closely monitoring the situation and urging all parties to work towards a resolution.
The National Retail Federation, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have called for intervention by the Biden administration. The major sticking points in the labor negotiations between the ILWU and Pacific Maritime Association are wages and the use of automation at U.S. ports. The labor slowdowns have led to concerns about supply chain disruptions, including delays in trucking, rail, and ocean carriers. The ILWU and PMA have traded accusations about the causes of the slowdowns. West Coast ports have lost trade to East Coast ports due to the labor situation.
Source: CNN & CNBC
