Retailers, manufacturers, farmers and other supply chain stakeholders have sent a letter to the US President Obama, urging the Government’s interventionin the contract negotiations amid the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. The letter stated, “We believe immediate action is necessary and the federal government’s use of all of its available options would be helpful in heading off a shutdown and keeping the parties at the negotiating table. This includes encouraging the parties to begin working with a federal mediator through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.” Management and labour have held talks since May, this year but have yet to approve a final agreement on a contract that expired in July, which covers dockworkers at 29 West Coast ports.
