West Coast Waterfront Coalition News

In a letter sent to every member of the United States Senate, the West Coast Waterfront Coalition expressed its general support for the Port and Maritime Security Act (S. 1214), but called on the Senate to make two critical changes to the bill before passing it. The group called on the Senate “to remember the importance that our West Coast Ports play in the national economy,” and “to be sensitive to the needs of U.S. businesses all across the country for the rapid movement of inputs to production, parts, and finished products.” In the letter, signed by West Coast Waterfront Coalition Executive Director Robin Lanier, the group called on the Senate to include new provisions in the bill that would require identification cards and background checks for port workers.

In a letter to President Bush yesterday, the West Coast Waterfront Coalition urged the President to take whatever steps are necessary to reopen the ports on the West Coast of the United States. Director Robin Lanier of the letter sent on October 2. "Even if we were to end this impasse today, it would take more than a month to recover and get our supply chains back in working order. This poses a tremendous threat to the holiday business so critical for many American retailers; and ensures that U.S. manufacturers will continue to experience parts shortages even well after ports are reopened.". • Short haul trucking companies at the harbors have effectively been shut down. Their employees and independent owner-operator truckers have no work to perform. • U.S.