Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 2/19/15


Two key West Coast ports have re-opened following a four-day partial closure last week of 29 ports amid an ongoing labor dispute.

The Pacific Maritime Association confirmed to Meatingplace that day shifts at the ports of Long Beach (Calif.) and Los Angeles resumed Tuesday.

Stalled labor talks between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have led to work disruptions and massive congestion at West Coast ports.

The disruption is costing the meat and poultry industry more than $40 million per week, the North American Meat Institute said.
U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez was expected to hold a second round of talks Wednesday with shipping company executives and union leaders in the hopes of ending the labor dispute.

The rift is affecting not only the meat industry but also threatening the entire U.S. economy. A full shutdown of the West Coast ports could cost $2 billion per day, the National Retail Federation estimated.

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