Republican Senators Propose Law Change to Dissuade Union Slowdown at Ports
Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, introduced the Preventing Labor Union Slowdowns (Plus) Act, which would revise the National Labor Relations Act to define a labor slowdown by port unions as an unfair labor practice. It also would change the labor law to say that labor unions' negotiations against port automation are an unfair labor practice.
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Risch, who co-sponsored the bill with Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Rick Scott, R-Fla., said the change is needed "to protect our national supply chain during upcoming maritime union negotiations."
“American businesses have experienced severe hardships and costs caused by ongoing supply chain disruptions. For an Idaho exporter, every additional day their goods are stuck in port costs them thousands of dollars,” he said in a March 24 news release. “As labor negotiations at ports get underway, the PLUS Act will ensure businesses are not held hostage and left to foot the bill if a labor dispute occurs.”
The release said that in previous negotiating periods, West Coast port workers did slowdowns, with one leading to $70 million in wasted fruit from Washington state growers, $40 million weekly losses in planned meat exports and $50 million in losses for Idaho potato exporters.
With no Democrats on board, the bill is unlikely to progress.