White House refuses to intervene in USEC port strike dispute

Posted on September 20, 2024   |  

The White House won't use legal powers to stop a potential port strike on the East and Gulf coasts.

177 trade associations had asked the government to step in if negotiations with the ILA didn’t resume.

The Terminal Employers Association USMX backed this request, urging the White House to help restart negotiations to avoid port disruptions.

They also called for the administration to be ready to act if a strike could cause a coastwide shutdown.

USMX was disappointed that the ILA wouldn’t negotiate further unless all their demands were met.

The White House has previously intervened to prevent strikes.

The main legal option is the Taft-Hartley Act, which allows the president to seek an 80-day cooling-off period if a strike threatens national safety.