Business & Tech
Dockworkers, Shipping Companies Reach Tentative Contract Deal
A tentative agreement has been reached on a new six-year contract for the roughly 22,000 workers at all 29 West Coast ports.
OAKLAND, CA — West Coast dockworkers have reached a tentative contract agreement with shipping companies and terminal operators after more than a year of negotiations.
In a joint announcement Wednesday, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) said they reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract for the roughly 22,000 workers at all 29 West Coast ports in California, Oregon and Washington.
Details of the new contract weren't released and it is subject to ratification by both sides, according to the announcement.
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PMA president James McKenna and ILWU president Willie Adams thanked Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su, who they said helped the bargaining teams find common ground.
"Thanks to the hard work and perseverance of the leadership of the ILWU and the PMA, the tentative agreement delivers important stability for workers, for employers and for our country's supply chain," Su said. "This important milestone is welcome news to all, and on behalf of President Biden, we are pleased to congratulate both parties on what they have achieved."
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During contract talks, the union staged work slow-downs and other actions that disrupted operations at some of the nation's most important ports, including Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle and Oakland. This led shipping companies to divert some cargo to ports along the East Coast and Gulf Coast.
Port of Oakland executive director Danny Wan praised the tentative agreement Thursday and said West Coast ports remain the most efficient points of contact for trade with Asian countries.
Wan said the port has been working hard with its international partners "to return diverted cargo back to the West Coast."
"Today is a monumental day for U.S. West Coast seaports. Labor peace is a commitment to continue delivering the most efficient, cost effective, and environmentally sustainable cargo operations in the country," Wan said.
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