More than 175 organizations representing manufacturers, farmers, agribusinesses, retailers, importers, exporters and transportation sent a letter to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Marine Association urging the two parties to come to a resolution of the West Coast ports labor dispute by working with the federal mediator.
The organizations said the ongoing labor dispute was having an adverse economic impact and was damaging the global competitiveness and reputation of U.S. companies, including meat and poultry companies that typically ship 200,000 metric tons to Asian markets monthly. It has been conservatively estimated the West Coast ports labor dispute is costing the U.S. meat and poultry industries over $40 million per week and the cost is expected to increase the longer the labor negotiations take.
Those signing the letter included the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, American Trucking Association, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, National Pork Producers Association, North American Meat Institute, National Retail Federation and U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
