Our Blog

ILWU and PMA Tentative Benefits Agreement Reached
Posted August 28, 2014

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) said Tuesday that they have reached a tentative agreement on terms for health benefits. This agreement is subject to other issues as negotiations continue on a new labor contract.

Both the ILWU and PMA said they agree not to discuss the terms of this tentative agreement while contract talks continue to take place.

The negotiated contract encompasses nearly 20,000 longshore workers at 29 ports along the West Coast.

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Napa Valley Earthquake
Posted August 28, 2014

A 6.1 magnitude earthquake hit parts of Napa Valley and Sonoma county early Sunday morning. The damage and disruption is still being assessed, as many areas are still without power. Potential gas leaks and water main breaks are also being investigated. There are reports of damage to wine bottles and barrels, collapsing racks, and damage to buildings in the affected area. In terms of logistics, the Oakland port is open and terminals are operating as usual, but deliveries into the affected areas may be hampered or delayed. We hope that all of our industry colleagues our safe.

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WSSA Grapevine
Posted July 14, 2014

Summer 2014 Issue Volume 5, Issue 2 of the WSSA Grapevine is now available! Our Summer 2014 issue features the latest on the west coast labor dispute, the P3 Alliance, South America updates, and WSWA highlights. Click here for instant access to WSSA's Summer 2014 edition of the Grapevine!

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Day Four: Government Shutdown
Posted October 4, 2013

As we move into the weekend, we have no major updates on the effects of the government shutdown on trade. Reports from the various ports in the USA indicate that wine and spirits shipments are still moving smoothly, with no customs issues or port delays. With some FDA staff on furlough, we do have reports of delays in FDA exams or items on hold with no exam scheduled.
 
We will monitor the situation over the weekend and report back to you on Monday. Please feel free to contact WSSA with any questions or comments.

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Day Three: Government Shutdown
Posted October 4, 2013

The TTB remains one of the key agencies affecting the flow of business for wine and spirits importers. While the website may be available to process funds, it is not available to file new COLA applications or retrieve current ones. Our forwarding partner, Albatrans, reports that they are forced to ask customers to supply copies of the label approvals when needed by US Customs. Normally, they can retrieve the copies from the website, so please understand and be patient if your broker is asking you for labels.

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