Sánchez pens letter urging Pacific Maritime Association, ILWU to engage in good faith negotiations

WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez (D-CA) led 20 of her colleagues in sending a letter to the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), asking them to engage in good faith negotiations and to remain at the bargaining table as they work on a new contract. The current contract between the Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU is set to expire on July 1, but both parties have committed to keeping goods moving as they continue to negotiate.

Currently, 22,000 ILWU dockworkers at 30 ports along the West Coast are in the process of renegotiating their contract with the Pacific Maritime Association. These ports⁠—including the ports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle-Tacoma, and Oakland—handle approximately 60% of all imports coming from Asia. The letter notes that United States has already experienced severe supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is seeing historic cargo volume. A potential breakdown in negotiations could exacerbate these existing supply chain bottlenecks, shortages, and inflation.

"America's ports, and the dockworkers who keep them running every day, are critical to keeping goods moving. Unfortunately, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen historic cargo volume, supply chain disruptions, and rising inflation. All these obstacles put even more strain on our already fragile systems, demonstrating the important and essential nature of our dockworkers," said Congresswoman Linda T. Sánchez. "The Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU have consistently fostered a positive and healthy relationship with each other throughout their long histories. I am optimistic that both organizations will stay at the bargaining table and ultimately reach an agreement that honors, respects, and protects American jobs and workers."

"The consequences of even a relatively brief port shutdown would be felt by every American at a time of an already stressed supply chain and with consumers on eggshells," said Nate Herman, Senior Vice President, Policy, American Apparel & Footwear Association. "The U.S. economy, American importers and exporters, the tens of millions of workers they employ, and the hundreds of millions of consumers they serve deserve reliability and confidence in the global supply chain. Every hour of work counts at the West Coast ports to ensure this stability."

In addition to Congresswoman Sánchez, the letter was also signed by Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Jim Costa (D-CA), Danny Davis (D-IL), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), John Garamendi (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Steven Horsford (D-NV), Daniel Kildee (D-MI), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Katie Porter (D-CA), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Kim Schrier (D-WA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Thomas Suozzi (D-NY), and Dina Titus (D-NV).

The full text of the letter is available HERE and below. 

June 30, 2022

President and CEO

James C. McKenna

Pacific Maritime Association

555 Market Street, Third Floor

San Francisco, CA 94105-5801

President

William E. Adams

International Longshore and Warehouse Union

1188 Franklin Street, 4th Floor

San Francisco, CA 94109-6800

Dear President McKenna and President Adams,

We write to you today regarding the contract negotiations currently underway between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. With the current contract expiring soon, we strongly urge all parties to stay committed to the collective bargaining process and work in good faith to reach an agreement.

We want to congratulate both of your organizations on the positive and healthy relationship you have fostered with each other, and the steps you have already taken to come to an agreement on this contract. We applaud the positive statement your organizations put out at the start of bargaining, committing yourselves to stay at the bargaining table and reach an agreement as you have consistently done throughout your long history.

Together, your groups represent 30 ports along the West Coast, including the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and more than 22,000 workers. We strongly believe that it is in the best interest of our nation for the parties to reach an agreement that honors, respects, and protects good American jobs and U.S. importers and exporters.

As you are already aware, the United States has experienced severe supply chain disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is seeing historic cargo volume at the same time, exacerbating our already fragile systems. Americans depend on the goods that come through our ports. Your organizations have done an admirable job keeping goods moving throughout the pandemic, and we appreciate your June 14th joint public statement committing to keeping goods moving.

We understand that given the complexity of these negotiations, it may be difficult to reach a deal before the expiration of the current agreement. We also recognize that this timing is typical and appreciate your shared assurances that cargo operations will continue beyond the expiration of the contract.

We share your optimism that you will be able to reach an agreement, while keeping cargo moving through the ports, and urge you to continue working toward this goal. Thank you for your consideration.

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