By David Shepardson and Lisa Baertlein
(Reuters) -The Biden administration is urging unions and employers to negotiate in good faith and quickly reach a new contract deal ahead of a possible Tuesday strike at U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports, a spokesman said White House official Friday.
The affected ports stretch from Maine to Texas and handle more than half of U.S. waterborne trade. A shutdown could cost the economy $5 billion a day, according to a JPMorgan analysis.
Talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents 45,000 longshoremen, and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employers’ group appear to be at a standstill over pay issues ahead of a September 30 deadline to agree a new contract.
On Friday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, acting Labor Secretary Julie Su and top White House economic adviser Lael Brainard will meet with USMX to immediately make clear “that they must be at the table and negotiate fairly and quickly in good faith” after officials delivered their speech. a similar message this week to the ILA, a White House official said.
On Thursday, USMX took the unusual step of filing an unfair labor practice complaint against the union, with leaders refusing to resume talks ahead of the threatened strike.
Union leaders say their members will walk out of their jobs at all 36 ports covered by the contract, the first strike since 1977, if employers do not agree to significant wage increases.
Also on Friday, nearly 200 agricultural organizations urged the White House to address key issues in the U.S. agricultural supply chain in light of the possible port strike.
