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White Home advises union, companies to negotiate quickly for brand-new ports contract

The Biden administration is urging the union and companies to work out in good faith and quickly reach a brand-new contract offer ahead of a prospective Tuesday strike at ports on the U.S. East and Gulf Coasts, a White Home official said on Friday.

The affected ports extend from Maine to Texas and handle majority of U.S. waterborne trade. A shutdown might cost the economy $5 billion daily, according to a JPMorgan analysis.

Talks between the International Longshoremen's Association, which represents 45,000 port employees, and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) company group appear deadlocked on wage problems ahead of a Sept. 30 due date to reach a new contract offer.

On Friday, Transport Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Performing Labor Secretary Julie Su, and top White House financial consultant Lael Brainard are meeting with USMX to convey directly that. they need to be at the table and negotiating in great faith. fairly and quickly after authorities delivered a similar message. today to the ILA, a White House authorities said.

On Thursday, USMX took the uncommon step of submitting an unreasonable. labor practice problem against the union, saying its leaders. refuse to resume talks ahead of the threatened strike.

Union leaders say their members will stroll off the task at all. 36 ports under the agreement, the first such strike since 1977,. if companies do not agree to substantial wage increases.

Also on Friday, nearly 200 agriculture companies prompted. the White House to address crucial U.S. farming supply chain. concerns in the face of the possible port strike.

(source: Reuters)