Representatives from major U.S. manufacturing and shipping trade groups met with White House officials this week to ask for a federal negotiator to intervene in a months-long labor dispute that has slowed West Coast ports ahead of the holiday season, according to sources present at the meeting.

Obama administration officials did not agree to a timeline or commit to introducing a negotiator, the sources said, though a representative from the National Retail Federation described the near hour-long meeting as a "good discussion." Representatives for the National Association of Manufacturers, the Toy Industry Association and the Consumer Electronics Association were also present.

The dispute centers on ongoing contract negotiations between maritime shippers and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), which represents 20,000 West Coast full- and part-time dockworkers. A six-year contract expired this July.

Neither the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents the shippers, nor the ILWU were present at Wednesday's meeting, though both were aware that it took place.

"These kind of meetings are fairly routine when important contract negotiations are under way," said Craig Merrilees, ILWU spokesman. "The ILWU remains focused on negotiating a fair settlement as quickly as possible."

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