Key facts
- The Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26 extended their bargaining deadline through November 20.
- The extension averts a potential strike by about 2% of workers at the busiest US container port complex.
- The Pacific Maritime Association said additional talks were scheduled with the union representing about 250 maritime watchmen.
- A strike would disrupt terminals handling roughly 85% of cargo at Long Beach and 33% at Los Angeles, the Pacific Maritime Association said.
The Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports employer group and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 26 extended their bargaining deadline through November 20, averting a potential strike by about 2% of workers at the busiest US container port complex, Reuters reported on November 7.
The Pacific Maritime Association said on Friday that additional talks were scheduled with the union representing about 250 maritime watchmen at the ports. Local 26 did not immediately return a request for comment.
The watchmen control and inspect truck and employee entries at terminal gates, provide terminal security and guard and track critical cargo crossing the docks. A strike by the ILWU watchmen would disrupt operations at terminals that handle roughly 85% of the cargo at Long Beach and 33% at Los Angeles, the Pacific Maritime Association said.
The Los Angeles and Long Beach ports each reported all-time cargo volume records for September. Those shipments included retail goods for holiday sales, equipment for AI data center construction and auto parts.