West Coast Dockworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Shippers

West Coast Dockworkers Reach Tentative Agreement with Shippers

Time Stamp: June 15, 2023 10:07 AM
Source Node: 2724710

The union representing thousands of dock workers on the West Coast of the United States announced that it had reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the shipping managers June 14 following more than a year of negotiations and several work disruptions.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) agreed to a new six-year contract with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), a trade group of cargo carriers and terminal operators. The details of the deal have not been disclosed at this time.

The agreement still needs to be ratified by both the PMA and union members, which would impact roughly 22,000 dockworkers at 29 ports across the U.S.

“The tentative agreement between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association brings the stability and confidence that customers have been seeking,” said Gene Seroka, the executive director of the Port of Los Angeles. “We’re grateful to Acting Secretary of Labor Julie Su, ILWU International President Willie Adams and PMA President James McKenna for their leadership and resolve. We look forward to collaborating with our partners in a renewed effort to bring back cargo and demonstrate why Los Angeles is the first choice for Trans-Pacific trade.”

Prior to the agreement being announced, dockworkers agreed to stage “concerted and disruptive work actions” at several ports across the United States, effectively shutting them down for multiple days including the Port of Oakland, the Port of Los Angeles, the Port of Hueneme, the Port of Long Beach, and the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle in Washington.

That effective shutdown had the potential to do massive damage to the U.S. economy since West Coast ports handle almost 40% of imports that come into the United States. But, with the signing of the agreement between the two sides, operations can once again proceed at the ports.

“The news of a tentative agreement between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association should be welcomed by every Angeleno and every American. This is a win for the working people of our City — and I want to give special recognition to acting United States Secretary of Labor Julie Su, President of ILWU Local 13 Gary Herrera and Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka,” said Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass. “Thank you to the dockworkers and terminal operators who continue to make our Port go – know that we will continue to do all we can to ensure it continues to prosper.”

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