Striking Out - Allways Forwarding

Additions to APHIS and Looming Strikes Around the World. Your weekly All-Ways round-up of Supply Chain news.

Declarations Demanded

Under the U.S. Lacey Act, certain products made of or containing plant/wood materials must be declared to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The requirement for a declaration depends on the HTSUS classification of the imported article. Starting December 1, 2024, APHIS will include over 200 additional HTSUS headings/subheadings in this list.

When a declaration is required, the following information must be provided to APHIS upon entry:
a) Scientific name (genus and species) of the plant/wood,
b) Country of origin of the species, and
c) Quantity of the material.

There are different information requirements for composite wood articles, and packaging materials and de minimis quantities are exempt from these declaration requirements.

The full Federal Register Notice can be found here.

East Coast Labor Negotiations

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) is demanding wage increases for dockworkers, citing the "billions of dollars" in profits recently reported by ocean carriers. The ILA canceled master contract talks with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) after accusing APM Terminals and Maersk of using automated technology that bypasses ILA labor at ports, including an automated gate system at the Port of Mobile, Alabama.

The ILA, representing 85,000 workers at East and Gulf Coast ports, insists it will not resume negotiations until the automation issue is resolved. ILA President Harold J. Daggett highlighted that while workers face economic challenges, employers are making record profits and emphasized the union's demand for significant wage increases.

Maersk disputed the ILA’s claims, stating the company adheres to the ILA/USMX master contract and expressed disappointment over the ILA publicizing negotiation details. The current contract, expiring September 30, offers union members $20 to $37 per hour based on seniority and skills. Daggett warned of a potential strike starting October 1 if a new contract is not negotiated.

Strikes In Europe

Rolling one-day strikes by transport workers in Germany’s main ports of Hamburg and Bremerhaven, as well as in the inland port city of Bremen, are significantly affecting container handling and rail transport.

The strikes were initiated by the German transport union ver.di following failed wage negotiations with the Central Association of German Seaport Operators (ZDS). Workers in Bremerhaven went on strike Thursday, following similar actions in Bremen on Wednesday and Hamburg last Friday.

The union is demanding a €3 per hour wage increase and higher shift bonuses. The current offer from ZDS was not disclosed but was deemed inadequate by the union.

Metrans, a subsidiary of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik, reported delays across all services, including a suspension of import and export train handling during the strike.

A third round of negotiations is scheduled for June 17 and 18. The strikes follow significant disruptions in March 2023 when transport worker strikes brought Germany to a standstill.

Similarly, French ports are experiencing labor disruptions due to a 24-hour strike by transport unions protesting pension reforms that raised the retirement age. Additional strikes and walkouts are planned throughout June.

Industrial disputes have increased across Europe since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, driven by rising energy and food prices, increased interest rates, and wages not keeping pace with the cost of living.

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