US hides and skins face 30-day backlog
The US Hide, Skin and Leather Association (USHSLA) has repeated a plea for the urgent resolution of labour disputes at West Coast Ports, now putting delays for hides and skins between 21 and 30 days.
In November, the organization joined more than 100 others, including US Meat Export Federation (USMEF), in requesting that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) stay the course in their labour contract negotiations.
A government mediator was appointed at the start.
“We respect the rights of the parties in the collective bargaining process,” said Stephen Sothmann, president of the USHSLA. “But their inability to resolve the dispute is having a significant impact on other US industries and interests, especially hides and skins exporters. This is an untenable situation that must be remedied.”
The industry exports an estimated $40 - $45 million in hides, skins and wet blue products via West Coast ports each week. Over 90% of US hides and skins are exported to foreign markets.
