John Furner President and CEO | Official website
The National Retail Federation (NRF) has responded to the suspension of a port strike following a tentative agreement on wages and a short-term contract extension between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay expressed relief at the development, stating, "The decision to end the current strike and allow the East and Gulf coast ports to reopen is good news for the nation’s economy."
Shay emphasized the importance of both parties working towards a final agreement. "It is critically important that the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance work diligently and in good faith to reach a fair, final agreement before the extension expires," he said. He added that reaching an agreement soon would benefit American families.
Earlier this week, NRF led nearly 300 industry trade associations in urging President Biden to use "any and all authority" to resolve the strike. As an advocate for retail interests, NRF continues to push for policies that ensure supply chain resilience.
The NRF represents retail's role as a significant part of the U.S. economy, being one of its largest private-sector employers with substantial contributions to GDP.
