NACD calls on PMA and ILWU to swiftly ratify tentative labor contract agreement

Today, National Association of Chemical Distributors (NACD) President and CEO Eric R. Byer released the following statement after the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced a tentative, six-year labor contract agreement for workers at 29 West Coast ports:

“West Coast ports are some of the largest in the nation and serve as critical gateways to the movement of essential products. Any delay or disruption at these ports causes severe strain on businesses of all sizes. More than a year into these labor contract negotiations, it became clear that the longer these discussions went unresolved, the greater the risk of additional supply chain challenges including delivery delays for many chemicals used in products every day by the American consumer.

“NACD applauds the PMA, ILWU, and Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su for their work on this agreement, and we urge both parties to swiftly ratify the proposal to ensure that businesses can rely upon an efficient and reliable supply chain.”

Last week, NACD called on the White House and Biden Administration leadership to help mediate these contentious labor contract negotiations to avoid further disruptions.