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Apparel, shoe importers plead with Biden to intervene in dock strike

Employers say union won’t come to bargaining table

The Port of Houston is one of three dozen ports that could be affected by a longshore union strike. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

With just over a week to go until a promised strike by East and Gulf Coast dockworkers, a U.S. trade group representing $92 billion dollars in annual imports through the affected gateways became the latest business interest to plead with President Joe Biden to step in to prevent a work stoppage.

At the same time, port employers said they remain open to negotiations but have been unable to schedule bargaining with the longshore union.

Elsewhere, shipping lines are tacking on peak season surcharges in anticipation of extended delays if port activity comes to a standstill.

On Monday the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) in a letter to Biden expressed “deep concern” about disruptions a strike could have on East and Gulf Coast ports, and implored the administration to get the United States Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen’s Association back to contract negotiations.


Bargaining on a new master contract covering 45,000 union workers at three dozen ports from Texas to Maine broke down months ago over unspecified proposals on wages, benefits and job protection. Biden earlier said he won’t block a port strike by the ILA.

An array of importers and manufacturers as well as House Republicans previously urged Biden to act on a possible work stoppage.   

In the letter, AAFA President and Chief Executive Steve Lamar claimed that the three dozen East and Gulf Coast ports affected by a work stoppage “will lose business long term as importers switch to the West Coast ports. The West Coast ports will face severe disruptions as limited capacity to absorb these products will create significant strains and delays at ports on rail, and on trucks.” He added that “American families will face a surge in prices and product shortages not seen since the pandemic.

“Now that we are one week away from a major disruption, the situation is dire, and we need your help now,” Lamar wrote, addressing Biden.


The ILA ports account for 53% of all U.S. apparel, footwear and accessories imports, or more than $92 billion, according to the trade group’s data. “This disruption would occur during peak holiday shipping season and raise the price of goods even higher, sending inflation skyrocketing. This potential shipping crisis will create a scarcity of goods while goods that are still available will be costly for American families,” the group said in a release accompanying the letter.

Also Monday, the United States Maritime Exchange, representing port employers, said it has been unsuccessful in trying to restart contract talks.

“Despite additional attempts by USMX to engage with the ILA and resume bargaining, we have been unable to schedule a meeting to continue negotiations on a new Master Contract,” the employers said in a release. USMX added it has been contacted by the Department of Labor, the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service, and other federal agencies, but both sides have to agree to work with federal mediation.

The union did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Marseilles, France-based CMA CGM, the world’s third-largest container shipping line, notified customers it will implement a surcharge across all freight of $1,000 per unit of cargo originating from the Indian subcontinent, Middle East Gulf, Red Sea and Egypt destined for the U.S. East and Gulf coasts. The surcharge is effective Nov. 1 until further notice.

More coverage by Stuart Chirls:

Maersk: Q4 container demand to remain strong


Port of Los Angeles sees busiest month outside pandemic

Rail intermodal powers to record volume

5 Comments

  1. JD. ILA. ALL THE WAY.

    While some of the people comments about the longshoreman and what they do and why we ask for what we ask for is because goods that comes in these Ports we have to make sure they get unloaded and everything that leaves this Country has to be Loaded no matter what time of day or night or Weather, rain, snow, sleet,storms we are working in it it does not matter to make sure you and I and are kids and family get what they need each and every day day after day night after night there are times i don’t get to see my kids just to make sure everybody’s else’s kids and family are ok these are some of the reasons why we do what we have to do for your family and mind it’s not easy but we do it every day 24hours day. Just think 🤔 and ask your self why, this why have a blessed day everybody 🙏.

  2. Andrew

    Want to address TJ’s comment.

    Why are we referring to contract negotiations as crying? They are negotiations unions endeavor in to bargain for a good outcome for whatever workers are represented. Wages and salaries are not an allowance, as you and other readers are perfectly aware. Infantilizing the longshoremen here isn’t endearing anyone to you. Looking at your comment, I don’t think it’s the longshoremen that need to grow up here.

    You also point to egos – do you think the ILA wants more money because they are egotistical? That is the motivation? You’ve asked them? And they’ve told you? What a gnarly way to see the world, friend. Wanting to be economically comfortable isn’t insisting on being special, either – you know this, but you’re so invested in having people agree with you that the most noble calling is to be a good, obedient worker that you’ll cram that kind of thing into your diatribe, assuming people will agree with you.

    Could you also do everyone – but mostly yourself – a favor and look at the kinds of profits retail goods companies have enjoyed over the last few years, and then tell us with a straight face that it’s the fault of a group of workers? Be real and grow up. It’s business as usual, not the end of the world, and unfortunately “people just don’t want to work anymore” has always been an old and tired drum to beat.

    We don’t have to demonize adults doing things we might not empathize with or even understand. And you can keep your traditional values without lying about a group of 25,000 people who are not the reason wealth is being hoarded at the top.

    —-

    Hope the strike ends soon, going to be a heck of a cleanup if it takes a while!

  3. LB

    Biden’s decision to do nothing tells me that the vote of union workers is more important than the livelihoods of the rest of America and the negative impact this strike will bring if it happens. Not utilizing the power to force a cooling off period so that the two parties can get together to negotiate is a poor decision in my opinion. At the very least, doing this would move the time line past the peak shipping season lessening the impact to a degree if a strike were still to happen.

  4. TJ

    Once again, just because the unions are causing higher prices for the rest of us. Here’s a novel idea- Why don’t you get your behinds back to work and earn your pay. I’m sorry but what you do does not make you any more special than anyone else. I realize it is a huge ego deflation to hear that but it’s true. Quit crying like a cry baby every time you think you need a bump in your allowance.

  5. Stephen Webster

    We should not do dependent on imports for basic items from countries that pay their workers very badly and treated poorly in my opinion.

Comments are closed.

Stuart Chirls

Stuart Chirls is a journalist who has covered the full breadth of railroads, intermodal, container shipping, ports, supply chain and logistics for Railway Age, the Journal of Commerce and IANA. He has also staffed at S&P, McGraw-Hill, United Business Media, Advance Media, Tribune Co., The New York Times Co., and worked in supply chain with BASF, the world's largest chemical producer. Reach him at stuartchirls@firecrown.com.