(Reuters) - A national coalition of U.S.
business groups is urging an end to a strike at the twin California
ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach amid fears that a prolonged
stand-off will cost the American economy many billions of dollars, and
could even spread to the east coast.
Trade groups led by the National Retail Federation have sent letters to U.S. President Barack Obama
and leading members of Congress asking them to intervene and help end
the strike at America's two busiest container harbor facilities. Those
industry groups say the strike, which entered its sixth day on Sunday,
is already costing $1 billion a day.
The labor dispute
has been triggered by 500 clerical workers at the ports, members of the
relatively small Office of Clerical Union Workers. Their industrial
action and clout has been significantly strengthened because some 10,000
members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have
supported them, refusing to cross the clerical workers' picket lines.
