The Latest on West Coast Port Labor Contract Talks, Rail, and OSRA

On December 9, the Senate authors of the TGA-supported Ocean Shipping Reform Act (OSRA), urged the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to make its definition of “unreasonable” stronger under the FMC’s proposed rule preventing carriers from “unreasonable” refusals to deal with shippers. In other news, while a rail strike has been averted, the paid sick leave issue is not going away with investor resolutions and Congressional letters while investigations into ongoing congestion continue. Meanwhile, on December 6, BNSF Railway, CSX Transportation, Norfolk Southern, and Union Pacific told government regulators that service is at or near pre-COVID levels. And many are wondering how President Biden imposing a contract on rail workers could impact the ongoing West coast port labor contract talks.