Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to Supervise ILWU-PMA Talks; Federal Mediation Long-Sought by NRF
WASHINGTON, 2015-1-7 — /EPR Retail News/ — The National Retail Federation issued the following statement from Vice President of Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold on the news that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association have agreed to federal mediation under the auspices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliations Service:
“The National Retail Federation welcomes the news that the ILWU and PMA have agreed to federal mediation to help settle their ongoing contract dispute.
“After months of heated rhetoric and increasing cargo congestion, this is the first positive news from the West Coast ports in some time.
“On behalf of the supply chain community, we sincerely hope the FMCS-supervised negotiations will progress quickly and that final agreement on a new labor contract will be reached relatively soon.
“While there are a number of outstanding and unresolved issues before the parties, we all share a commitment to the long-term viability and competitiveness of the West Coast ports.”
NRF is the world’s largest retail trade association, representing discount and department stores, home goods and specialty stores, Main Street merchants, grocers, wholesalers, chain restaurants and Internet retailers from the United States and more than 45 countries. Retail is the nation’s largest private sector employer, supporting one in four U.S. jobs – 42 million working Americans. Contributing $2.6 trillion to annual GDP, retail is a daily barometer for the nation’s economy. NRF’s This is Retail campaign highlights the industry’s opportunities for life-long careers, how retailers strengthen communities, and the critical role that retail plays in driving innovation. www.nrf.com
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Stephen E. Schatz
202-626-8119
press@nrf.com
(855) NRF-Press