UNITED STATES - Port workers at both the East and Gulf ports are officially on strike after the six-year master contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) expired on September 30. Both the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Retail Federation (NRF) issued statements regarding this development.
“The Administration is taking action to monitor and address potential impacts on consumers due to labor disputes at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports,” the USDA noted in a statement. “Our analysis shows we should not expect significant changes to food prices or availability in the near term. Thanks to the typically smooth movement through the ports of goods, and our strong domestic agricultural production, we do not expect shortages anytime in the near future for most items. Likewise, non-containerized bulk export shipments, including grains, would be unaffected by this strike. For meat and poultry items that are exported through East and Gulf Coast ports, available storage space and re-direction of products to alternative domestic and international markets can alleviate some of the pressure on farmers and food processors.”
The statement went on to explain how the USDA is keeping track of potential challenges in the future.
“We are keeping an eye on downstream impacts in the West, and we will continue to monitor and work with industry to respond to potential impacts. Our Administration supports collective bargaining as the best way for workers and employers to come to a fair agreement, and we encourage all parties to come to the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith—fairly and quickly,” the statement concluded.
NRF’s President and Chief Executive Officer, Matthew Shay, also issued a statement.
“NRF urges President Biden to use any and all available authority and tools—including use of the Taft-Hartley Act—to immediately restore operations at all impacted container ports, get the parties back to the negotiating table, and ensure there are no further disruptions,” he explained. “A disruption of this scale during this pivotal moment in our nation’s economic recovery will have devastating consequences for American workers, their families, and local communities.”
Shay also noted the timing of this strike.
“After more than two years of runaway inflationary pressures and in the midst of recovery from Hurricane Helene, this strike will result in further hardship for American families. The administration must prioritize our economy—and the millions of Americans who depend on it for their livelihood and wellbeing—and intervene immediately to prevent further hardship and deeper economic consequences,” he noted. “It is essential that the ILA and USMX immediately resume negotiations with the intention of finalizing a new master contract without further disruptions and put an end to this stalemate.”
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