Supply Chain

The National Retail Federation issued the following statement today from Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold on the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) vote approving a new, long-term master labor contract covering port terminal operations along the East and Gulf Coast ports:

With Customs officials saying they hope to minimize the impact of federal spending cuts on cargo processing, import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 2.7 percent in April over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates.

A change in federal tax law that decreased the take-home pay of many working Americans is impacting household budgets. According to NRF’s 2013 Tax Returns Survey conducted by BIGinsight, nearly three-quarters (73.3%) of those polled say their spending plans are taking a hit.

The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold on the ratification of a contract between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63 Office Clerical Unit (OCU) and the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Employers Association (HEA):

With a tentative contract deal reached with East Coast and Gulf Coast dockworkers but a key West Coast agreement unsettled, import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 8.5 percent in February over the same month last year, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates.

NRF urged labor and management at the Ports of LA and Long Beach to work through their differences without any disruption after rejection of a tentative contract by union members.

The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, today issued a statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay on the tentative contract agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which covers dockworkers along 14 East and Gulf Coast container ports:

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 2.3 percent in January over the same month last year as retailers continue to urge labor and management to avoid a strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast docks, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates.

Bringing together the world’s leading retailers and their business partners, Retail’s BIG Show is set to commence next week, offering a speaker lineup never seen before. The four-day convention, held January 13-16, 2013 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City, will feature topics ranging from digital and mobile retailing to corporate and social responsibility to economic and consumer trends in the new year.

National Retail Federation President and CEO Matthew Shay issued the following statement on news that the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance agreed to extend their contract negotiations for an additional 30 days:

The National Retail Federation today issued the following statement from NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold on the breakdown of contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Exchange:

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.

Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 3.9 percent in December despite a strike that closed the nation’s largest port complex for the first few days of the month, but retailers are keeping a close watch on a possible strike on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by NRF and Hackett Associates.

The National Retail Federation today issued a letter to the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd., urging both sides to reach an immediate contract agreement before the December 29 deadline to ensure a secure and dependable supply chain along the East and Gulf Coast ports. The ILA and USMX have been locked in negotiations, assisted by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, since their contract expired on September 30. Another round of contract negotiations is set for next week.

The National Retail Federation and a diverse coalition of manufacturers, farmers, wholesalers, retailers and transportation organizations today sent a letter to President Obama to express their mutual concern about the ongoing labor disruption at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Striking clerical workers have been picketing many of the port terminals for the past week, effectively shutting down major portions of the ports.

Christmas came early for 24 college students when they learned they were recipients of a $5,000 scholarship through the NRF Foundation’s Ray M. Greenly Scholarship fund. Each student, nominated by educators at their schools based on their high scholastic achievements and passion for retail, will receive a $5,000 scholarship to cover educational costs and a stipend to attend Retail’s BIG Show in January.

NRF has issued a statement from President and CEO Matthew Shay renewing NRF's call for President Obama to intervene in the strike that has closed most terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The National Retail Federation today urged President Obama to immediately engage in the stalled contract negotiations between management and striking union workers at the nation's largest ports. The International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63 Office Clerical Unit has established pickets outside a majority of the terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

The National Council of Chain Restaurants has released a new, comprehensive report on the impact of federal ethanol policies, specifically the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Renewable Fuel Standard, on the chain restaurant industry, commodity prices and the food supply chain.