If US East and Gulf Coast port workers and operators don’t reach an agreement on contract negotiations by December 29, 2012, ports from Maine to Texas could see work stoppages—similar to what was experienced the past eight days with the clerical workers’ strike at ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach, California.  

In the event of an additional strike, retail, agriculture, food, and beverage companies would be hit especially hard due to their profit-driven strategy of keeping inventory levels low and the sudden and severe backlog and rerouting pressures caused by a work stoppage.

In US Port Strikes US Port Strikes — What’s at Stake and How to Manage Your Risk, we outline steps you can take to protect your revenue, market share, and reputation in the event of a major work stoppage, including:

• Comprehensive supply chain risk management strategies to mitigate potential shocks.
• Strategies to improve visibility into the supply chain and evaluate risk mitigation and transfer options.
• Key preparatory questions you should be asking to reduce vulnerabilities and thrive in the face of adversity.