Sacramento, CA – Today Assemblyman Marc Steinorth (R-Rancho Cucamonga) and legislative leaders held a press conference urging immediate resolution to the ongoing labor dispute at the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. The stalled contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime have been ongoing for 9 months, which has led to a major slowdown in operations at West Coast ports, the busiest ports in the U.S.
The recent announcement of a port shutdown will cost the U.S. economy $2 billion per day. Until there is an agreement, many businesses across all industries will not receive shipment of products and goods. It has been estimated that this port congestion could cost retailers as much as $7 billion this year.
“Small businesses are an innocent bystander in the West Coast port shutdown,” said Steinorth. “Businesses in my district are already laying off employees because shipments are so severely delayed. The government cannot afford to sit on their hands when jobs are lost due to special interests holding the economy hostage.”
“The ongoing West Coast port labor dispute is having a devastating impact on our economy. Farmers and ranchers in particular are having a tough time shipping perishable food to customers worldwide. It is unacceptable that California’s economy is essentially being held hostage to a labor dispute,” said Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen, of Modesto. “I am calling for action from President Obama and the federal government to intervene and secure a resolution so we can get our ports fully operating again.”
Assemblyman Steinorth sent a letter to Governor Brown in December 2014, urging his administration to consider all options to prevent further economic bleeding resulting from this ongoing port dispute.
Contact Sam Chung at (916) 319-2040
