US port strike over but local manufacturers ‘prepared’

he Barbados Manufacturers’ Association (BMA) assured consumers that food manufacturers are well-equipped to handle potential supply chain disruptions, despite the dockworkers’ strike in the United States which was suspended later on Thursday.

The strike, led by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), had raised concerns about inventory shortages as the busiest commercial season approaches.

Speaking before the union announced it was suspending the strike, BMA President and Managing Director of Roberts Manufacturing Rakeesh Bernard emphasised that most domestic food makers maintain substantial stock levels to ensure resilience during unforeseen disruptions.

“The food manufacturers of Barbados are always prepared. While this situation is unexpected, so was the pandemic,” he said.

Bernard highlighted that many larger food manufacturers typically carry as much as six months’ worth of raw materials, allowing them to navigate the uncertainties posed by the strike without immediate repercussions. He noted that stakeholders in the local manufacturing sector recently convened to discuss proactive strategies to mitigate potential challenges arising from the industrial action.

While the BMA president acknowledged the difficulty in predicting the strike’s long-term impact on consumers, he pointed out that many manufacturers also source supplies from markets outside the US.

“The time frame for consumers to see a change is anybody’s guess,” he said. “If the strike lasts weeks or months, then obviously there will be an impact. However, if it lasts only a day or two, we may see no effect on the manufacturers’ side.”

He gave an assurance to consumers that domestic industries have strategically planned their inventories and raw materials, particularly with the holiday season approaching.

“We… have factored those things in along with our lead times,” he added, suggesting they were in a strong position to meet consumer demand.

Dock workers and port operators in the US reached a deal to immediately end a crippling three-day strike that had shut down shipping on the American eastern seaboard and the Gulf Coast, the two sides said in a statement.

They have tentatively agreed on a wage hike of around 62 per cent over six years, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters news agency, including a worker on the picket line who heard the announcement.

The deal would raise average wages to about US$63 ($126) an hour from US$39 (BDS$78) an hour over the life of the contract, Reuters reported. (SM)