CTL Director Yossi Sheffi was interviewed by Sourcing Journal about recent east coast port strikes and how the employees have more bargaining power due to recent precedents set by UPS and other organizations.
“If they allow the strike, there will be impact. Products will not get into the stores, and there will be shortages,” Sheffi told Sourcing Journal. “There will be short-term delays and long-term delays. These ports are closer to major consumer centers than the West Coast ports, so there will be more immediate effect.”
“I think there will be a strike. The sides are too entrenched,” said Sheffi. “The problem with high rhetoric is that you get tied to it. Let’s say you’re a union leader, and you promise them a 100 percent wage increase—you cannot compromise on 20 percent. It just doesn’t work this way, especially given the fact that UPS and some other organizations got very rich contracts.”