Should the White House intervene in the West Coast port dispute?

News that terminal operators at busy ports on the West Coast will suspend the unloading and loading of ships for four days over the President's Day weekend has prompted the National Retail Federation (NRF) to call on the Obama administration to step in and bring the parties together to negotiate a deal.

The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents port employers in the negotiations, announced yesterday that it would suspend work in an apparent attempt to punish workers who would typically earn 50 percent or more over their normal wages. The PMA also closed ports last weekend.

"Last week, PMA made a comprehensive contract offer designed to bring these talks to conclusion," said PMA spokesperson Wade Gates, in a statement. "The ILWU responded with demands they knew we could not meet, and continued slowdowns that will soon bring West Coast ports to gridlock. What they're doing amounts to a strike with pay, and we will reduce the extent to which we pay premium rates for such a strike."

"This is an effort by the employers to put economic pressure on our members and to gain leverage in contract talks," said Robert McEllrath, president of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), in a statement. "The Union is standing by ready to negotiate, as we have been for the past several days."

"The slowdowns need to end. The brinkmanship needs to stop," said Jonathan Gold, vice president for supply chain at NRF, in a statement. "The ILWU and PMA are delaying cargo and merchandise in the short-term while harming the competitiveness of the West Coast ports in the long-term. This stalemate is hurting American businesses, their employees and consumers."

"It's time for the White House to immediately engage in this critically-important economic priority and force the two sides to remain at the negotiating table until a deal is done," said Mr. Gold. "The time for monitoring has passed. The time for action has come."

• Retailers Call on White House to Intervene in West Coast Port Dispute - National Retail Federation
• ILWU Slowdowns Lead to Temporary Suspension of Vessel Operations on Four Weekend, Holiday Dates - Pacific Maritime Association
• Port employers cancel talks and idle vessels - International Longshore and Warehouse Union
• West Coast Ports to Suspend Vessel Loading, Unloading Operations - The Wall Street Journal (sub. required)
• West Coast ports shutting down... again - CNBC