US economy gains footing with port truce

Manufacturing News, Source : TheManufacturer.com
Published : 26 Nov 2002 21:35

Major players in the West Coast port stoppage dispute, the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, reached a compromise this Christmas season when the two parties agreed on a labor contract to avoid another stoppage.

“This is a terrific early Christmas present to America’s economy,” said Jerry Jasinowski, president of the National Association of Manufacturers. “Resolution of the labor contract dispute at the west coast ports clears up a major obstacle to a vigorous recovery.”

Nearing the expiration of the Taft-Hartley freeze in December, an additional stoppage could severely harm US manufacturers by stalling the just-in-time delivery systems necessary to a lean culture. “We’re still clearing up after the backlog from the last shutdown,” said Jasinowski.

Comments on this story

click here to add a comment