A potential strike involving around 250 port watchmen could disrupt container terminal operations at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach from 1 November, according to the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA).

Workers represented by International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 26 have authorised a possible walkout.

The watchmen make up only about 2% of the ILWU workforce across the two ports, but work at facilities responsible for more than half of the port complex’s cargo.

PMA said other ILWU workers are not expected to cross Local 26 picket lines if a strike begins.

As a result, the dispute could stop vessel, yard and gate activity at six of the 13 container terminals at Los Angeles and Long Beach.

PMA separately said the terminals concerned handle about 85% of cargo at Long Beach and 33% at Los Angeles.

The strike threat follows unsuccessful negotiations over a new labour agreement. The previous agreement expired in July 2025, with the watchmen continuing to work under an extension.

Local 26 President Luisa Gratz said in a 23 October letter that negotiations with employers and PMA had been under way since 2025 without producing an agreement.

Talks are now continuing with assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

The potential labour disruption comes as the Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex is already dealing with a large backlog of containers moving inland by rail, according to the Journal of Commerce.

Terminal congestion and difficulties repositioning sufficient rail equipment to Southern California have contributed to the accumulation.

The rail delays have prompted concerns over the movement of holiday merchandise towards the eastern half of the US.

Retailers and market observers said some goods caught in the backlog could fail to reach stores before Black Friday. Union Pacific and BNSF have introduced strict rail-car allocations for customers until the Southern California container backlog eases.