Dockworkers at the U.S. West Coast ports returned to full-force work on February 21 to start wading through the months-long backlog after management and union reached a draft five-year deal on February 20 that ended the deadlock that had spewed port congestion and mounting losses for businesses.
In a joint written statement, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), a group of shipping companies operating the West Coast ports, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) said they have reached a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract covering workers at all 29 West Coast ports.
“The deal was reached with assistance from U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Deputy Director Scot Beckenbaugh. The parties will not be releasing details of the agreement at this time. The agreement is subject to ratification by both parties,” the statement said.
“After more than nine months of negotiations, we are pleased to have reached an agreement that is good for workers and for the industry,” said PMA president James McKenna and ILWU president Bob McEllrath. “We are also pleased that our ports can now resume full operations.”
Meanwhile Port of Long Beach chief executive Jon Slangerup welcomed the outcome of the employer-labor talks brokered by Perez starting February 17.
“We know that the marine terminal operators, longshore workers, truckers, railroads and others will be extremely busy as they work to clear out the massive backlog of cargo at all of the West Coast ports, including Long Beach. All of us will be working together to make this happen as soon as possible, but once again, we are extremely pleased with today’s news,” added Slangerup.
Reports say it would take at least three months to clear the massive volume of cargo that has piled up at the docks with the slowdown of work by dock employees since November 2014 as well as the recent shutdown by terminal operators of night, weekend, and holiday shifts to avoid paying overtime for work they described as “strike with pay.”
The resolution of the labor feud is seen to pave the way for the eventual restoration of free flow across the West Coast seaports that together process about one-fourth of U.S. international trade.
The feud has had a tremendous effect on the U.S. economy, causing delays and losses for various industries. With negotiations concluded positively, domestic trade groups such as the National Association of Manufacturers and the U.S. Meat Export Federation welcomed the deal.
Perez said the ILWU and PMA agreed to fully restore all port operations starting Saturday evening, and described the tentative pact as “fair for both workers and the businesses operating at the ports.”
The draft contract will still need review and approval by members of both sides.
Photo courtesy of the Port of Long Beach
