Vilsack: Ports, Unions Need To Keep Bargaining

“You know, I think it's fair to say that this administration has been pretty clear in terms of its support for the collective bargaining process," noted Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack when recently asked about the possibility of a dock workers strike this week at East Coast ports from New England down to Texas.

“You know, so I think the Administration's view that at the end of the day, the best resolution of any labor dispute is when the parties sit down at the bargaining table and essentially hammer out the differences that they may have.  And I think that is right now the message that's being conveyed by administration officials who are communicating with both the Union and the ports.”

Vilsack said the USDA will do whatever it can to help ease the effects during a port strike.  But his message to all parties involved is: ”Stay at the table, continue to bargain and get it worked out.”

Port workers went on strike Tuesday morning.

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