WASHINGTON – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01) joined 69 Members of Congress, including senior leaders of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, in calling on the Biden-Harris administration to work to prevent a work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports, including the Port of Virginia. A potential strike could lead to dire impacts to U.S. supply chains, the economy, and American consumers.
In a letter, the Members of Congress write that “if a work stoppage occurred at East and Gulf Coast ports in October, estimates suggest that a one-week strike would take until mid-November to recover from and clear the backlog of cargo. Estimates further suggest a two-week strike would take until 2025 to fully recover from. Lengthier strikes would have an even greater cascading disruption. Any of these situations would have serious consequences for American consumers and the holiday season.”
The letter further states “while we understand issues persist in the contract negotiations between [United States Maritime Alliance] and the [International Longshoremen’s Association], it is imperative that both parties remain at the bargaining table for as long as necessary to reach an agreement that avoids a work stoppage and the serious negative economic consequences that would follow.”
The leadership of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), the largest union of maritime workers in North America, has warned of a potential strike beginning Oct. 1 if no agreement on a new labor contract is reached with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).
Read the full text of the letter to the White House here.
