Washington Retail Insight

Port Labor Contract Vote Ends ‘Pins and Needles’ for Worried Retailers

By J. Craig Shearman
Washington Retail Insight
April 10, 2013

Dockworkers at East Coast and West Coast ports this week ratified a new contract, putting an end to months of worries that a shutdown could disrupt retail supply chains.

Retailers “have been on pins and needles for the past year,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. “Today’s vote will bring much-needed certainty and efficiency to East and Gulf Coast port operations.”

Nearly 15,000 members of the International Longshoremen’s Association voted on Tuesday to approve a contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance that was reached in February. The six-year agreement covers 14 ports from Maine to Texas that handle 40 percent of the nation’s ocean cargo.

February’s deal came after more than a year of heated talks and strike deadlines that twice forced retailers to begin implementing expensive contingency plans only to see negotiators return to the table at the last minute. NRF played a leading role in encouraging labor and management to continue bargaining and avoid shutdowns.

© 2013 National Retail Federation