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.
News / Supply Chain Alerts
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.
Customs and Border Protection has begun the retroactive MPF billing process for merchandise entered October 1, 2011 through November 4, 2011. The retroactive increase affects over 650,000 entry summaries, and CBP will process the bills in batches from June to September 2012.
joc.com
Canadian Pacific Railway service has been suspended after union workers began a strike early Wednesday.
joc.com
Canadian Labor Minister Lisa Raitt plans to meet with representatives of Canadian Pacific and a railroad union today in an effort to prevent a looming strike.