National Retail Federation Vice President of Supply Chain Jonathan Gold on the news that the Pacific Maritime Association requested federal mediation in their ongoing contract negotiations with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union:
 
“The nation’s supply chain community welcomes the news.
For the last several months, the nation’s retailers, manufacturers, farmers and others have witnessed a dramatic increase in port congestion. The congestion may have many causes but we believe it is due, in part, to the lack of a new labor contract.
The National Retail Federation has been steadfast in its calls on the White House to engage in the contract talks and we urge the administration to accept PMA’s offer to appoint a federal mediator to help resolve the current congestion crisis at the West Coast ports.
 A federal mediator was key to resolving the East and Gulf Coast ports contract in 2012, and it can do the same for the West Coast ports in 2014.”