U.S. Chamber Coalition Letter on West Coast Port Labor Negotiations

July 1, 2022

The Honorable Joseph R. Biden

President

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW

Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden,

On behalf of the undersigned organizations, and the millions of businesses and employees we represent, we are writing to you regarding the ongoing West Coast port labor negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association. With the contract set to expire today, we urge the administration to continue to work with the parties to reach a new agreement without any disruption to port operations.

Thank you for recently meeting with the parties to discuss these negotiations. We appreciate the June 14th joint statement as a result of that meeting. In that statement, the parties state that cargo operations will continue beyond the contract expiration and that neither party is preparing for a strike or a lockout. However, we believe an immediate extension of the current contract is just as important and will provide assurance to the millions of businesses, workers and consumers who rely on the West Coast ports.

We know that there are significant issues for both parties that need to be worked out during this contract negotiation. The only way to resolve these issues is for the parties to remain at the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith. Extending the current contract would provide additional certainty to all of the supply chain stakeholders that rely on the U.S. West Coast ports. This is even more important as we continue to experience supply chain disruptions and congestion for a variety of reasons.

As we enter the all-important peak shipping season, we continue to expect cargo flows to remain at all-time highs, putting further stress on the supply chain and increasing inflation. Many expect these challenges to continue through the rest of the year. Even with the recent joint statement, supply chain stakeholders remain concerned about the potential for disruption, especially without a contract or an extension in place. Unfortunately, this concern stems from a long history of disruptions during previous negotiations.

We know the administration understands the economic significance of these negotiations. As such, we encourage the administration to provide any and all support to the parties to reach a final conclusion of their negotiations.

In particular, while the parties seek to reach a final agreement, the administration should work with the parties to:

1) Extend the current contract until a final contract is reached;

2) Commit to remain at the negotiating table and negotiate in good faith; and

3) Agree to not engage in any kind of activity that leads to further disruption at the ports. The only way the parties can reach an agreement that will ensure the continued competitiveness of the ports and those who rely upon them is to remain at the table until a new agreement is finalized. Thank you for your leadership on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Agricultural Council of Arkansas

Agricultural Retailers Association

Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration

Institute

Alabama Cotton Commission

Amcot

American Apparel & Footwear Association

(AAFA)

American Chemistry Council

American Clean Power Association

American Composites Manufacturers

Association

American Cotton Producers

American Cotton Shippers Association

American Down and Feather Council

American Farm Bureau Federation

American Forest & Paper Association

American Foundry Society

American Herbal Products Association

American Home Furnishings Alliance

American Lighting Association

American Seed Trade Association

American Trucking Associations

Arkansas Cotton Warehouse Association

Associated Builders and Contractors

Association of Equipment Manufacturers

Association of Food Industries

Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers

(AHAM)

Auto Care Association

Autos Drive America

Beer Institute

Building Service Contractors Association

International (BSCAI)

California Business Properties Association

California Chamber of Commerce

California Cotton Ginners & Growers

Association

California Farm Bureau

California Retailers Association

California Rice Commission

California Trucking Association

Can Manufacturers Institute

CAWA – Representing the Automotive Parts

Industry

Coalition of New England Companies for

Trade (CONECT)

Colorado Potato Administrative Committee

Columbia River Customs Brokers and

Forwarders Assn.

Consumer Brands Association

Consumer Technology Association

Cotton Growers Warehouse Association

Cotton Warehouse Association of America

Cottonseed and Feed Association

Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)

Customs Brokers Freight Forwarders Assn of

Northern California

Customs Brokers and International Freight Forwarders

Association of Washington State (CBIFFAWS)

Delta Council

Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Fashion Accessories Shippers Association

Fashion Jewelry and Accessories Trade Association

Florida Cotton Producers Association

Florida Farm Bureau

FMI – The Food Industry Association

Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America (FDRA)

Foreign Trade Association

Gemini Shippers Association

Georgia Cotton Commission

Global Cold Chain Alliance

Green Coffee Association

Halloween & Costume Association

Harbor Trucking Association

Hardwood Federation

Home Fashion Products Association

Idaho Potato Commission

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries

Intermodal Motor Carriers Conference

International Casual Furnishings Association

International Foodservice Distributors Association

International Fresh Produce Association

International Housewares Association

International Warehouse Logistics Association

(IWLA)

ISSA - The Worldwide Cleaning Industry

Association

Juvenile Product Manufacturers Association

Kansas Cotton Association

Leather & Hide Council of America

Littler Workplace Policy Institute

Los Angeles Customs Brokers & Freight

Forwarders Association

Maine Potato Board

Meat Import Council of America

Mississippi Farm Bureau Federation

Motor & Equipment Manufacturers

Association (MEMA)

Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC)

National Association of Chemical Distributors

(NACD)

National Association of Manufacturers

National Association of Wholesalers

National Confectioners Association

National Cotton Council

National Cottonseed Products Association

National Council of Farmer Cooperatives

National Electrical Manufacturers Association

(NEMA)

National Fisheries Institute

National Industrial Transportation League

(NITL)

National Marine Manufacturers Association

National Milk Producers Federation

National Oilseed Processors Association

National Sporting Goods Association

National Pork Producers Council

National Potato Council

National Retail Federation

National Sorghum Producers

Natural Products Association

New York New Jersey Foreign Freight

Forwarders & Brokers Association

North American Association of Food

Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM)

North American Home Furnishings

Association

North American Meat Institute

North Carolina Cotton Producers

Northwest Horticultural Council

Oklahoma Cotton Council

Oregon Business & Industry

Oregon Retail Council

Outdoor Industry Association

Outdoor Power Equipment Institute

Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and

Freight Forwarders Assn. (PCC)

Pet Advocacy Network

Potato Growers of Michigan, Inc.

Plains Cotton Growers, Inc.

Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI)

Promotional Products Association International (PPAI)

Recreational Off-Highway Vehicle Association (ROHVA)

Retail Association of Nevada

Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA)

Rolling Plains Cotton Growers

San Diego Customs Brokers and Freight

Forwarders Assn.

San Joaquin Valley Quality Cotton Growers Association

SNAC International

Society of Chemical Manufacturers and

Affiliates (SOCMA)

South Texas Cotton and Grain Association

Southern Cotton Growers

Southern Kansas Cotton Growers Cooperative

Southern Rolling Plains Cotton Growers

Southwest Council of Agribusiness

Specialty Equipment Market Association

Specialty Vehicle Institute of America (SVIA)

Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)

St. Lawrence Cotton Growers

Tea Association of the U.S.A.

Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation

Toy Association

Travel Goods Association (TGA)

United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA)

U.S. Apple Association

U.S. Chamber of Commerce

U.S. Dairy Export Council

USA Rice

Vinyl Institute

Washington Retail Association

Washington State Potato Commission

Washington State Tree Fruit Association

Washington Trucking Associations

Western Agricultural Processors Association

Western Peanut Growers Association

Window & Door Manufacturers Association

Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America

Wine Institute

CC: Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Department of Transportation

Secretary Marty Walsh, Department of Labor

Secretary Gina Raimondo, Department of Commerce