Oregon counties urge Obama to act on port dispute

The Association of Oregon Counties is urging President Obama to use his office and influence in order to avoid a costly and disruptive shutdown of West Coast ports.

In a letter signed by AOC President Gary Thompson, the group asks the president to intervene in the labor dispute that has slowed the movement of cargo from the ports for several months and is now having a significant and adverse impact on the Oregon economy.

The letter makes it clear to the President that shut down would be an economic catastrophe for Oregon and for all of the state’s trade partners, especially if it lasts any length of time.

Although AOC says it realizes the president’s options are limited, the letter urges him to intervene as soon as possible to help mediate a solution to a looming economic disaster.

The text of the letter:

Dear Mr. President,

The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) welcomes the news that a mediator from the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has been directed to assist in contract dispute resolution between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA). We are hopeful that all sides will work quickly to reach an agreement that will prevent further disruption to the free flow of cargo at our west coast ports.

Disagreements between the parties at our ports, which have been brewing for years and have heated up since the previous contract expired on July 1, 2014, have caused significant negative impacts to the economy of Oregon. Continued work slow-downs threaten to cut off hard-earned trade partners for agricultural goods, leaving producers with limited markets in the upcoming harvest seasons. Retailers and manufacturers have also suffered in both exporting and, more significantly, importing goods on which they rely to produce and sell products to consumers. These impacts translate into direct job losses as well as economic failure in many sectors.

Although we are grateful that FMCS is engaged, we are very concerned that anything short of an expeditious resolution could mean a possible shut down or strike at west coast ports in 2015. This would be an economic catastrophe for Oregon and all of our trade partners. We realize that your options for intervention are limited, but this is a problem we all understand to be of global proportions.

On behalf of Oregon’s 36 Counties, AOC stands ready to assist you by putting our collective shoulder to the wheel to find resolution for these parties and get our traded sector back to full speed. AOC’s Executive Director Mike McArthur may be reached at 503-585-8351 or mmcarthur@aocweb.org.