Joseph Bonney, Senior Editor | Sep 05, 2012 9:25AM EDT
Organizations representing apparel importers have written to the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance, urging them to resume stalemated negotiations for an East and Gulf Coast dockworker contract.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association, the Travel Goods Association, Gemini Shippers Association, and the Fashion Accessories Shippers Association urged the ILA and USMX to resume negotiations, which broke off Aug. 22.
The groups said their members are concerned about the possibility of a work stoppage or slowdowns at the ILA-USMX contract’s Sept. 30 expiration, and that their products require on-time arrival to meet customer demand and avoid costly chargebacks from retailers.
“This need for certainty and reliability becomes even more important during the months preceding the holiday season, when all levels of the supply chain increase production in anticipation of the busiest shopping period of the year,” the letter said.
The groups said shippers already are worried a work stoppage “would have dire consequences for the already-struggling U.S. economy and the consumer population as a whole.”
Contact Joseph Bonney at jbonney@joc.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JosephBonney.
