Hawaii’s only Republican state senator, Sam Slom, planned to express his concern about the West Coast shipping labor dispute Friday by filing a Senate resolution calling on President Barack Obama to use his power under the Taft-Hartley Act to force the parties to return to normal work and negotiate.

Bloomberg reported this week that “Manufacturers and retailers are stockpiling goods and taking steps to bypass West Coast ports amid a labor dispute that the facilities’ operators say threatens a shutdown disrupting more than 40 percent of U.S. trade.”

In a statement issued Thursday, Slom said:

“A lockout on the West Coast would be devastating to Hawaii. It would result in food and household goods shortages, and could have serious economic effects for Hawaii, including affecting our number one industry, tourism. Because the parties have no obligation to arbitrate, the battle between the PMA and ILWU is getting out of control. It is time for our President of the United States and our unheard from congressional delegates to get involved and use the power of their offices to take this in hand and clear the congestion in West Coast ports.”

Matson shipyard area on Honolulu Harbor.

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