Negotiations on port dispute continue

OCTOBER 14, 2012 — Talks continue ended at resolving a labor dispute that could close 14 ports on the U.S.East and Gulf coasts.

Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Director George H. Cohen issued a statement Sunday on negotiations between the United States Maritime Alliance and International Longshoremen’s Association. It said:

“I am pleased to announce that five days of productive negotiations between the parties concluded on Saturday and that negotiations will resume next week under the auspices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Further, I wish to commend the parties for their hard work and commitment to this process. The parties are making good progress on a number of difficult issues at the full committee and subcommittee levels.”

“As is our custom and practice, due to the sensitive nature of these high profile negotiations, we will have no further comment on the schedule for the negotiations, their location, or the substance of what takes place during those negotiations.”

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and 67 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities.