Update: 26.04.2023

US West Coast labour talks have achieved positive progress this week, according to a recent update by the US shipping and transport news website Journal of Commerce (JOC).

According to the report, the union and employers have cleared a “major hurdle” involving the “union’s manning demands for conventional terminals in Southern California.” This improvement allows the two parties to move on to discuss other issues, such as wages and retirement benefits, a source told JOC.

Disruptive labour actions that took place last week ceased on the weekend preceding the Monday talks, adds JOC. This development comes after a tentative agreement was announced by the union on a number of key issues.

Update: 21.04.2023

A statement issued yesterday by labour union ILWU announced that it reached a tentative agreement with West Coast employers on key issues, reported Journal of Commerce (JOC). The details of the agreement were not disclosed, but the ILWU assured its members that negotiations are on their way "until an agreement is reached." However, a final deal is yet to be concluded, added JOC.

In the meantime, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) published a brief update on their website saying, "While significant progress has been achieved in coastwise contract negotiations, several key issues remain unresolved." PMA informed its customers that the ILWU continues to disrupt some operations at key marine terminals.

"The Union is deliberately conducting inspections that are not routine, unscheduled, and done in a way that disrupts terminal operations," said the association.

Original article: 14.04.2023

Operations at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports faced multiple disruptions this week as workers continued to engage in activities that delayed work at the ports. The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents terminal operators at the 29 West Coast ports, blamed the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) for “using new tactics” that caused disruption to terminal operations.

This week, “the union has unilaterally delayed the standard dispatch process, which is jointly administered by PMA and the ILWU, and refused to allow PMA’s participation in the labour dispatch process,” said PMA in a statement issued 13 April.

“These actions have slowed the start of operations throughout the Southern California port complex,” added the statement. The PMA noted that the ILWU has also “forced crucial cargo handling equipment to be taken out of operation at several key terminals.” The actions were described as "illegal" and that they "undermine the confidence in West Coast ports."

Terminals at the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex were shut down for two shifts on 7 and 8 April as part of labour action staged by union members in protest against stagnating contract talks. A report published in 2022 by the National Association of Manufacturers estimated the potential loss caused by such action at nearly USD 500 million per day.