On Friday, November 30, 2012, Bruce Carlton, president of the National Industrial Transpotation League (NITL) asked President Obama to help facilitate new labor negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Office Clerical Union (OCU) and the Los Angeles-Long Beach Employers Association. The two parties have been in contract negotiations for over two years. The OCU set up picket lines at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, causing a near-shutdown of facilities in the Ports.

In a letter to President Obama, Carlton urged the use of, “all measures at your disposal to encourage the two sides to resume talks and end the work stoppage.”

Carlton wrote, “The current impasse in these labor talks has resulted in a near-shutdown of the nation’s largest port complex, the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.” He pointed out that NITL represents importers and exporters and others who depend on the timely movement of products in both domestic and international commerce. “[They] rely on the two ports to move goods to their customers in overseas markets as well as imported goods that are necessary to operate plants, facilities, and [deliver] products to consumers here in the U.S.,” Carlton wrote.

Carlton pointed out that the ports “facilitate exports for U.S. companies that employ millions of American workers in factories, farms, and facilities that fuel America’s economy.”

He added, “Getting these negotiations back on track is a necessity. We urge you to employ all measures at your disposal to encourage the two sides to resume talks and end the work stoppage.”