The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association continue to dispute over labor contract agreements, even after United States Department of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez met with both sides late this week urging them to reach an agreement.  This comes on the heels of efforts earlier this month by Governor Jerry Brown and a recent press conference held late last week by a group of California Legislators, including Senator Minority Leader Bob Huff (R-Diamond Bar), Assembly Republican Leader Kristin Olsen (R-Modesto), Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber), and Assemblymembers Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield), Devon Mathis (R-Visalia) and James Gallagher (R-Yuba City).  The legislators used the press conference to urge the parties to reach a quick resolution to labor disputes between dock workers and port operators.  

California’s growing agricultural sector – farmers and ranchers – are expected to be impacted from the labor impasse as the movement of goods coming in and out of Western Ports has drastically slowed.  A significant share of California’s $42.6 billion agricultural industry is produced throughout rural communities across the state, causing growing concerns from farmers and ranchers that ongoing labor disputes may cause severe economic hardship.