joc.com
International Longshoremen’s Association and employer representatives discussed “a number of major issues” in two days of contract negotiations this week, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service said.
News / Supply Chain Alerts
The Brazilian Board of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) approved temporary Import Duty increases for 100 products, effective the first of October. The increased duty particularly affects the steel, petrochemicals, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals and capital good sectors. The increases will remain in effect for 12 months, but can be extended until December 31, 2014
The Journal of Commerce Online – News Story
As reported by the Journal of Commerce, the International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance agreed to a 90-day contract extension, averting a threatened Maine-to-Texas dock strike at the end of this month.
With the possibility of a strike at East and Gulf Coast ports, some carriers have announced a “Port Congestion Charge” that would take effect at the end of September if ports shut down as a result of the labor dispute. The effective date of the surcharge will be triggered by the Gate In Date / Received Date at origin.
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) Director George H. Cohen announced today that upon the request of the FMCS, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have agreed to resume negotiations under FMCS auspices during the week of September 17, 2012.
On Tuesday evening, August 28, over 700 ILA members from Local 1804-1 unanimously gave its president, Dennis A. Daggett, the authority to recommend and call for a strike if that action becomes necessary when the current Master Contract expires on September 30, 2012. The current President of the International and Dennis Daggett’s father, Harold J. Daggett, was in attendance at Local 1804-1’s vote.
The Journal of Commerce reported that negotiations for a new International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) contract covering dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast ports broke down suddenly this afternoon. The current master contract expires on September 30.
reuters.com
Typhoon Kai Tak veered closer to the financial hub of Hong Kong late on Thursday, prompting the local observatory to raise the No. 8 tropical cyclone warning signal as some port operations were disrupted along with local transport services.
joc.com
The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday released the first Ocean Shipping Container Availability Report designed to alert exporters about possible surpluses or shortages of marine containers at 18 inland intermodal load points.