On June 14, 2023, a tentative agreement between dockworkers from the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association was reached.
The contract is expected to last for six years and will finally end the 13 months of negotiations and will stop West Coast tensions. The union members must vote to ratify the contract before both parties can sign the contract and both parties jointly announced they would not release contract details at this time.
The joint statement included their appreciation to Acting Department of Labor Julie Su, from the Biden Administration for easing negotiations this week. Su thanked both the ILWU and PMA for their perseverance in reaching a tentative deal. And the tentative agreement delivers important stability for workers, for employers, and for our country’s supply chain. This is an important milestone and is welcome news to all.
Jonathan Gold, Vice President, National Retail Federation, stated in part: “The tentative labor agreement could have a stabilizing effect on cargo volumes for the twin ports of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach” and “as a lot of retailers and other shippers have been waiting to see the agreement finalized to provide stability to both LA (Los Angeles) and LB (Long Beach) as well as the West Coast Ports” and concluded with a statement: “Now having an agreement in place is critical for folks to decide to go back to the West Coast.”
Please contact your Western Overseas representative for any questions.
