HI SR5

Requests the President of the United States invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to appoint a board of inquiry and obtain an injunction to resume work for a cooling-off period in the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and International Longshore Warehouse Union (ILWU) labor dispute.

Documents the escalating labor dispute beginning May 2014, with the Coast Contract expiring July 1, 2014, followed by ILWU withholding skilled labor positions in October 2014 and PMA restrictions on night work beginning December 2014.

Establishes that 50% of U.S. containerized freight passes through 29 west coast ports, representing 12.5% of U.S. GDP, with potential economic impact of $1-2 billion per day if a full lockout occurs.

Notes severe impacts on Hawaii, Guam, Alaska, and American Samoa including sparse store shelves, spoiled produce, and American Samoa receiving no west coast freight for over one month.

Urges Hawaii's congressional delegation, western state representatives, and Governor David Ige to encourage the President to invoke Taft-Hartley Act powers and requests transmission of resolution copies to federal and state officials.