California Port Crisis Escalates As Labor Negotiations Reach Breaking Point

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the largest trade group representing American businesses, sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Friday warning about "premeditated and disruptive service actions that are slowing operations at several major West Coast ports during ongoing contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA)."

Suzanne Clark, President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, wrote in the letter, "With continued and potentially expanded service disruptions at these ports heading into peak shipping season, we urge your Administration to intervene immediately and appoint an independent mediator to help the two parties reach an agreement that prevents significant economic harm to American families and the economy." Clark said the service disruptions "follow a familiar pattern of negotiations between the PMA and ILWU over the last twenty years," noting the 2002 slowdowns and 11-day shutdown of West Coast ports, work stoppages at various shipping hubs that lasted three weeks in 2008, and 2014 work slowdowns.

 WATCH: BRITISH COLONEL RICHARD KEMP REPORTING FROM GAZA

The ILWU's collective bargaining agreement expired last July, and the current round of negotiations, which began on May 10, 2022, is yet to yield an agreement. The ILWU represents over 22,000 longshore workers at 29 West Coast ports, all of whom would be covered by the negotiated collective bargaining agreement.

 TRUMP READY TO DEBATE BIDEN 'ANYWHERE, ANYTIME, ANYPLACE,' BUT WILL IT HAPPEN?

The PMA, representing shipping lines and terminal operators at West Coast ports, tweeted on Friday, blaming a "series of coordinated and disruptive work actions led by the ILWU" at several ports for slowing port operations. For example, the PMA said that at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the ILWU declined to dispatch "lashers" who secure cargo for trans-Pacific voyages, which caused those vessels laden with U.S. exports to sit idle at the docks, unable to depart.

 WATCH: NO CLUE WHY THEY ARE PROTESTING: "I WISH I WAS MORE EDUCATED"

June 12, 2023

PMA noted that ILWU actions at the Ports of Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Oakland slowed operations from June 2 to June 7, although conditions had improved by the end of last week. However, the ILWU subsequently slowed down operations at the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma, and on Saturday, the PMA said the ILWU shut down cargo operations at the Port of Seattle.

 CRITICS SLAM BIDEN'S ATTEMPT TO RELATE PERSONAL TRAGEDY TO POLICE OFFICER DEATHS

In a tweet, the labor union denied the claim of a shutdown, as ILWU President Willie Adams stated, "Despite what you are hearing from PMA, West Coast ports are open as we continue to work under our expired collective bargaining agreement." The union said that it "remains committed to bargaining a contract that is fair and equitable and represents the hard work and contributions of its members toward the ongoing success of the multi-billion-dollar shipping industry." It also accused the PMA of "using the media to leverage one-sided information in [an] attempt to influence the process."

 KARMA IS A B*TCH: COUNCIL MEMBERS WHO CRITICIZED NYPD NOW BEGGING FOR THEIR PROTECTION

The ongoing disruptions at West Coast ports and labor negotiations have raised concerns about supply chain woes hitting the U.S. economy during the peak shipping season. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce has urged President Joe Biden to intervene and appoint an independent mediator to help the two parties reach an agreement that prevents significant economic harm to American families and the economy.