NRF Asks White House to Address Port Congestion Challenges
A retail trade group is asking President Joe Biden and other top administration officials to help address challenges retailers are facing from continued supply chain disruptions that are leading to congestion at U.S. ports.“The supply chain disruption issues, especially the congestion affecting our key maritime ports, are causing significant challenges for America’s retailers,” National Retail Federation president and CEO Matthew Shay said in a letter to the White House. “The…
Retailers Call on Union and Ports for Long-Term Stability
The National Retail Federation called on the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance to seek long-term stability at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports following last week’s strike at the Port of New York and New Jersey. “The threat of potential or ongoing labor disruptions will force retailers and other stakeholders to reevaluate supply chain options for their cargo,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. Shay’s comments came in a letter to union and port management executives following an unexpected January 29 strike that resulted in serious backups of cargo.
US Retailers Urge Speedy W. Coast Labor Contract Negotiations
The National Retail Federation (NRF) informs it has urged maritime management and the union representing dockworkers along the U.S. West Coast ports to expedite pending contract negotiations and reach agreement on a new deal well in advance of the expiration of the current contract this summer. NRF believes expedited negotiations would strengthen the supply chain and provide shippers and retailers the certainty they need to utilize the West Coast ports during the holiday shipping period, which begins in July.
NRF Urges President to Intervene in Port Negotiations
NRF: East and Gulf Coast Strike Would Have Devastating Implications for the Retail Industry. The National Retail Federation today sent a letter to President Obama to express the retail industry’s growing concern if a contract agreement isn’t reached between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. The two sides have been in negotiations, with the assistance of federal mediators, for the past few months with little demonstrable progress. The concern for a coast-wide strike is ever increasing. While another round of talks is scheduled for this week, the contract deadline – December 29 – is quickly approaching.
NRF Renews Call for Obama to Intervene in Port Strike
The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay regarding the strike that has shut down most terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. NRF last week sent President Obama a letter asking that he intervene in the strike. “As we enter Day 6 of the strike, NRF is renewing its call for President Obama to intervene and end this work stoppage. The shutdown is already having a significant negative economic impact on retailers trying to bring in merchandise for their final push for holiday sales and will soon have an impact on consumers. The work stoppage not only impacts retailers…
Potential U.S. East Coast Port Strike on Agenda
Possible ports shutdown at the end of September to be addressed at upcoming Inland Port Logistics Conference informs UBM Global Trade. Current longshore labor negotiations are a hot issue being closely followed by the shipping industry in the U.S. and globally. The Journal of Commerce announce that it will add a session to the agenda of its Inland Port Logistics Conference, Sept 5-6, in Oak Brook, IL, covering this volatile and unpredictable negotiation that impacts everyone from railroads to third-party logistics providers to beneficial cargo owners. Responding to the recent breakdown in talks between the International Longshoremen's Association and United States Maritime Alliance…
Labor & Management Urged to Negotiate US East Coast Settlement
The National Retail Federation (NRF) say they will have to divert cargo elsewhere in a matter of days unless stand-off ends. “We understand and recognize that there are tough issues that need to be resolved,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “The issue will only be resolved, however, by agreeing to stay at the negotiating table until a final deal is reached. Failure to reach agreement will lead to supply chain disruptions which could seriously harm the U.S. “We are facing a critical time,” Shay said, noting that some retailers have already enacted contingency plans to ensure that holiday merchandise will reach store shelves in time.
'Keep Talking' Retailers Urge Gulf Port Contract Negotiators
The National Retail Federation wishes to avoid any potential supply chain disruption, delay or stoppage, which could stifle global commerce and jeopardize the fragile U.S. economic recovery. “Any kind of disruption at the ports would not only add costly delays to our members’ supply chains and other industries relying on East and Gulf Coast maritime facilities, but potentially further threaten the fragile economic recovery as we enter the peak [holiday] shipping season,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay wrote in a letter to the parties involved. Shay’s remarks were contained in a letter to the International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents the dock workers, and United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd., which represents the terminal operators.
