Business View Magazine - Sept 2023

17 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 10, ISSUE 9 Source - https://www.supplychaindive.com, Max Garland, First Published Aug, 16, 2023 An extended stretch of labor unrest has sowed uncertainty throughout transportation modes, adding further incentive for shippers to firm up their supply chain contingency plans. From disruptions at West Coast ports in the U.S. and Canada to UPS and Yellow’s dust-ups with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, disputes between unions and employers have been a recurring threat to the steady flow of goods in recent months. They’ve sparked container backlogs, shifts in carrier mix, and pleas for quick resolutions as companies battle-tested by the COVID-19 pandemic work to minimize risk. Labor disputes aren’t a new hurdle for supply chains, and each employer-union clash has its own unique blend of history and demands attached to it. But one particular factor exerts a strong influence over recent conflicts: Workers are seeking much stronger pay, benefits and protections in new deals they believe are appropriate for the sacrifices they made during the pandemic and amid current inflationary pressures. Strike threats and other labor actions are hitting supply chains as workers across industries seize WHAT’S BEHIND THE SUMMER OF SUPPLY CHAIN LABOR UNREST? OPENING L INES