By SEMA Washington, D.C., Staff
A dispute between dockworkers and employers has been tentatively resolved after federal involvement pushed the two sides to reach an agreement. Prior to the deal, shipping in and out of the largest ports in the western United States was slowed to a standstill due to a labor dispute between the dockworkers, represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, and ship owners, represented by the Pacific Maritime Association.
Despite the resolution, the dispute continues to beleaguer companies that rely on the ports for acquiring components essential to their supply chains. It is estimated that the backlog translates into a three- to four-week delay for unloading shipping containers that accumulated at the ports during the disruption.
For more information, contact Steve McDonald at stevem@sema.org.