President Obama is sending U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez to California to meet with International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association negotiators to help them reach a contract as West Coast congestion nears a breaking point.
“The negotiations over the functioning of the West Coast Ports have been taking place for months with the Administration urging the parties to resolve their differences,” the White House said in a statement on Saturday. “Out of concern for the economic consequences of further delay, the President has directed his Secretary of Labor Tom Perez travel to California to meet with the parties to urge them to resolve their dispute quickly at the bargaining table.” Perez, who is already in communication with both sides, will keep Obama updated on the status of the talks, according to the White House. Before the announcement made Saturday, the White House had balked at getting directly involved in talks and said it was confident both sides would be able to work out a deal.
Source: Journal of Commerce