TIA Congratulates ILWU, PMA for its Port Contract
The Toy Industry Association (TIA) congratulates the membership of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) for voting last week to ratify a five-year labor agreement, expiring in July 2019. The ratification of the contract provides much-needed stability for toy companies shipping through the West Coast ports.
“We are pleased that ILWU and PMA have come to an agreement, signaling to toy companies that the West Coast ports will be more stable over the next five years,” said Ed Desmond, TIA executive vice-president of external affairs. “This past year’s congestion crisis placed a significant financial burden on toy companies—98 percent of which are small businesses. Going forward, we are calling on PMA and ILWU to begin their negotiations early, so that an expired labor contract will not impact toy companies who rely on the West Coast ports to get their products on store shelves.”
During the 2014 peak shipping season, shippers faced significant congestion at the West Coast ports due to a variety of factors, including port inefficiencies, larger ships, and extended ILWU/PMA labor negotiations over a contract that expired last July. The drawn-out negotiations resulted in slowdowns and partial shutdowns contributing to the congestion. ILWU and PMA leadership agreed on a contract in February after Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Secretary of Labor Tom Perez joined the negotiations. The ratification by ILWU and PMA membership finalizes the agreement for dockworkers at the 29 west coast ports.
“We look forward to continuing to work with the ports and political leadership to improve port efficiency,” said Desmond. “Peak shipping season is critical for the toy industry, and over 50 percent of toy imports come in through Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. As international trade continues to grow, we need to work together to identify solutions to congestion issues at the ports.”
Cra-Z-Art Partners with Toy Industry Foundation
The Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) announced that Cra-Z-Art has been named the exclusive sponsor of TIF’s Toy Bank program for 2015. Cra-Z-Art’s sponsorship includes a $10,000 donation, which will help TIF bring the magic of play to millions of children in need this year.
The Toy Bank, TIF’s signature program, distributes millions of toys to children who are sick, impoverished, living in foster care, coping with military life, or otherwise in need.
ChizComm Named AOR for Imperial Toy
ChizComm Ltd. announced that it has been named the agency of record (AOR) for Imperial Toy, a manufacturer of bubbles and novelty toys. ChizComm will lead public relations and marketing communications efforts across North American markets, grow existing businesses and launching new brands. ChizComm will focus on products such as Lumination, Blitz, Power Poppers, and the Super Miracle Bubble brand.
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