Juanita Duggan, CEO at the American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) has welcomed appointment of a federal mediator to the contentious contract negotiations between West Coast union dockworkers and their employers.
“The labour dispute between the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), who have been without a contract for seven months, has contributed to intense congestion in West Coast ports since October,” Duggan said.
She added, "Nearly 50 percent of the clothing and shoes sold in the United States is imported through the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and the industry is having critical product deliveries delayed by three to four weeks as result of the labour dispute.”
AAFA thanked both, the ILWU and PMA for agreeing to mediation, and urged the parties to halt congestion-causing actions in order to reach a swift resolution.
"With the import peak for Spring season for clothing and shoes rapidly approaching, it is crucial that President Barack Obama engage in intensive monitoring of the negotiations, and be ready to act immediately if conditions do not improve," Duggan informed. (AR)
