Cattle Producers Cheer Resolution of West Coast Port Dispute

Washington, D.C. (November 25, 2002) – The hopes of cattle producers and other agriculture groups have been realized with the longshoremen's union and shipping companies’ announcement of a new six-year contract.

The announcement follows a labor dispute which began in late September when dockworkers were locked out of 29 Pacific ports, halting the movement of millions of tons of meat, fish, produce and retail goods for 10 days, and prompting intervention by the Bush Administration to circumvent further damage to an already-weak economy.

“This is great news for America’s cattle producers,” says Wythe Willey, Iowa producer and president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).  “Our trading partners can rest assured that supplies of American beef products will continue to be shipped reliably and expeditiously without interruption.”

NCBA monitored the labor dispute throughout the lockout and negotiation process urging – when necessary – involvement from key policymakers.  As exports sat idle during the 10-day lockout, the nation’s economy lost an estimated $2 billion a day, forcing President Bush to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act which ordered longshoremen back to work during the negotiation process.

“We are so grateful to the President and to members of Congress for the role they played in getting this issue resolved,” says Willey.  “We are pleased to see this matter come to a positive resolution.  Exports are vital to U.S. cattle and meat industries, and Asian markets are a major part of export demand.”

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