The following statement can be attributed to Ohio Chamber President & CEO Steve Stivers after the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strike began on Tuesday.
“Today’s announcement by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) of a strike that will directly impact 56% of America’s ports is devasting news for Ohio.”
“Our state is ranked tenth in exported goods; we exported $55.8 billion in goods in 2023, accounting for 6.4 percent of our GDP. The export business also accounted for 194,000 jobs in 2021 (latest data available). Additionally, 88% of the Ohio companies that export goods are small to medium-sized businesses.
The Ohio Chamber of Commerce urges President Biden and the U.S. Congress to intervene in contract negotiations that will shorten the duration of the strike.”
Every day of the strike requires 5 to 7 days to clear the backlog, so a lengthy strike will impact the holiday season and have a lasting impact on Ohio’s economy.”