John Furner President and CEO | Official website
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has issued a statement from its President and CEO, Matthew Shay, regarding concerns of a potential labor strike at U.S. ports on the East and Gulf Coasts. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have until September 30 to negotiate a new contract.
"NRF continues to call upon the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance to return to the bargaining table to resume negotiations in order to reach a new deal before the contract expires on Sept. 30," Shay stated. "The threat of a strike during the peak shipping season has many retailers already implementing costly mitigation strategies."
Shay further emphasized, "At a time when inflation is on the downward trend, a strike or other disruption would significantly impact retailers, consumers and the economy. The administration needs to offer any and all support to get the parties back to the table to negotiate a new contract."
In June, NRF led a coalition of 158 state and federal trade associations in urging President Biden's administration to assist in reaching an agreement between ILA and USMX. Earlier this year, NRF also sent letters directly to both organizations calling for renewed port labor negotiations.
As an advocate for retail policies that ensure supply chain resiliency, NRF continues its efforts in representing retail interests.
About NRF:
The National Retail Federation advocates for people, brands, policies, and ideas that support retail success. Headquartered in Washington D.C., NRF represents an industry contributing $5.3 trillion annually to GDP and supporting over 55 million jobs in the U.S.
