More than 150 local, state and national trade associations implored U.S. President Joe Biden to push for a smooth and swift resolution to West Coast port labor talks ahead of late Friday’s expiration of the contract covering more than 22,000 workers. Groups representing industries from agriculture and apparel to trucking and toys requested that Biden work with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) employer group to extend the current contract, commit to ongoing good-faith negotiations, and avoid any activity that would cause further disruptions. “We know the administration understands the economic significance of these negotiations,” they wrote in a letter sent to Biden ahead of the contract expiration at 5 p.m. PDT Friday (0000 GMT Saturday). The contract covering […]