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United States East Coast port employers file NRLB complaint against union as strike looms

Companies working out a labor contract at U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports on Thursday filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the union, saying those leaders decline to resume talks ahead of the threatened Oct. 1 strike.

The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) said it filed the complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, due to the duplicated refusal of the International Longshoremen's Association to go back to the bargaining table. The 2 sides appear to be deadlocked on wage concerns.

It is uncommon, however not unprecedented, for employers to make such complaints to the NLRB - an independent company of the federal government that imposes U.S. labor law, particularly with regard to collective bargaining and unfair labor practices.

The six-year master contract between USMX and the ILA ends on Sept. 30.

A White House authorities on Thursday reiterated the president does not intend to invoke a federal law called the Taft-Hartley Act to prevent a strike.

We motivate all celebrations to come to the bargaining table and negotiate in great faith, the official stated. Senior. officials from the White Home, Labor Department, and Department. of Transportation are in touch with the celebrations and providing. the message to them directly on being at the table and. negotiating in excellent faith relatively and quickly.

As that due date methods, business that depend on. ocean shipping are significantly concerned that the ILA's 45,000. members will strike and close 36 ports that deal with more than. half of U.S. ocean trade of items such as bananas, meat, car. parts, building and construction materials and clothing.

Hold-ups and costs might rapidly cascade, threatening the U.S. economy in the weeks ahead of the U.S. governmental election and. burdening already taxed international ocean shipping networks.

A JPMorgan analysis projected that a port strike could. cost the U.S. economy $5 billion daily.

The company group said it asked for immediate. injunctive relief-- needing the union to resume bargaining--. so that an offer could be completed.

The ILA in a declaration on Thursday called the USMX a bad. negotiating partner.

If it wasn't for the ILA taking part in major and. efficient negotiations, the majority of the local contracts would not. have been settled over the previous year, the union said in a. declaration.

Earlier today, ILA International President and chief. Mediator Harold Daggett stated he had actually rebuffed a number of USMX. methods.

They call me several times every week trying to get the ILA. to accept a low-ball wage plan, Daggett stated.

Sources near to the talks said the ILA requested for a wage. increase of 77% - a portion the union called exaggerated. Market professionals say the boost likely will be greater than the. 32% increase negotiated by the union covering workers at West Coast. ports in 2015.

(source: Reuters)