The association representing the largest U.S. retail companies urged the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance to reach a contract agreement well in advance of the Sept. 30 deadline in order to prevent a disruption to the flow of goods and the lasting economic effects that would result.
In a letter sent Tuesday to the two sides in the labor negotiations, the Retail Industry Leaders Association said ports play a critical role in retailer supply chains and a potential disruption would be destructive to the retail industry’s ability to deliver goods to consumers in a “just in time” fashion.