NRF says port strike will have ‘devastating consequences,’ calls for immediate action
The National Retail Federation called on the Biden administration to use "any and all authority’ to end the strike.
The National Retail Federation’s (NRF) President and CEO, Matthew Shay, has released a statement after a labor strike was initiated at all U.S. East and Gulf Coast container ports this week, calling for immediate restoration of operations at all impacted containers ports.
“NRF urges President Biden to use any and all available authority and tools – including use of the Taft-Hartley Act – to immediately restore operations at all impacted container ports, get the parties back to the negotiating table and ensure there are no further disruptions,” wrote Shay.
The strike went into effect Oct. 1 after the six-year master contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) expired on Sept. 30.
“A disruption of this scale during this pivotal moment in our nation’s economic recovery will have devastating consequences for American workers, their families and local communities,” continued Shay. “After more than two years of runaway inflationary pressures and in the midst of recovery from Hurricane Helene, this strike will result in further hardship for American families. The administration must prioritize our economy – and the millions of Americans who depend on it for their livelihood and wellbeing – and intervene immediately to prevent further hardship and deeper economic consequences.
“It is essential that the ILA and USMX immediately resume negotiations with the intention of finalizing a new master contract without further disruptions and put an end to this stalemate.”
Last month, the NRF issued a statement urging the parties to immediately resume negotiations. The group also spearheaded a letter signed by nearly 200 organizations to President Biden urging the administration to intervene and avoid a disruption.
In June, the NRF led a coalition of 158 state and federal trade associations in a letter to President Biden urging the administration to work with the negotiating parties and to reach a new agreement. Earlier this year, the group also sent a letter to ILA and USMX calling for the resumption of port labor negotiations.
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