An agreement anticipated to bring stability to supply chains through West Coast ports for the foreseeable future was tentatively reached last week.  The agreement results in a sizeable pay increase and bonus structure for port workers on the West Coast.  The agreement results in an estimated increase in Dockworker pay of approx. 32% through 2028 and an estimated one-time bonus of approx. $70 million dollars in recognition of efforts and sacrifices made during the pandemic which is referred to as a “hero” bonus. While the six-year agreement must be ratified by employers and dockworkers, includes improvements in benefits and other…

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) on Tuesday raised shippers’ hopes for a longer period of labor peace at U.S. West Coast ports with the joint announcement that they will consider a contract extension during early November talks. In their joint statement, the ILWU and PMA proceeded cautiously by saying that at the Nov. 1 to Nov. 2 talks in San Francisco they will discuss only the “concept” of a contract extension. The exploratory talks will focus on the issues that would be addressed if the two sides agree to move into formal contract…

FMCS, Cabinet Secretaries Played Key Roles SAN FRANCISCO (Feb. 20, 2015) – The Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union today announced 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. “After more than nine months of negotiations, we are pleased to have reached an…

Yard, Gate and Rail Operations Will Continue on "Premium Pay" Work Dates SAN FRANCISCO (Feb. 11, 2015) – In light of ongoing and costly ILWU slowdowns, PMA members will temporarily suspend premium-pay weekend and holiday vessel operations on four upcoming dates, while yard, gate and rail operations will continue at terminal operators’ discretion. In Southern California, terminal operators will expand daytime vessel operations on non-holiday weekdays. Weekend and holiday pay rates command a premium of at least 50% of the basic longshore wage rate. As a result, working hours on those days would be paid at between $54 and $75…

ILWU’s Choice: Continued Slowdowns or Gold-Standard Wages & Benefits SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (February 4, 2015) – Seeking to break the deadlock in stalled West Coast longshore negotiations, the Pacific Maritime Association has made an "all-in" contract offer that would significantly increase compensation to members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. Full-time ILWU workers already earn an average of $147,000 per year, and would see their wages rise roughly 3 percent per year, along with fully paid health care that costs employers $35,000 per worker per year. The maximum ILWU pension would rise to $88,800 per year as part of…

PMA Warns: “Complete gridlock is on the horizon” The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) released the following statement, “backups at the five largest West Coast ports have reached levels that are no longer sustainable as a result of staged slowdowns by the ILWU.  Operations are approaching complete gridlock.”  The number of ships at anchor in Los Angeles / Long Beach, CA has grown to approximately 10 with backups expected to worsen in light of the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday in the Far East which begins on February 19th. Punctuating the pace of negotiations which have just reached the eight month mark…

On the heels of a recent exchange of contract proposals between the PMA and the ILWU one thing is clear; rumors of negotiations being close to a final contract are untrue. The posturing escalated on Friday with the PMA's decision to reduce the number of gangs (work crews) typically unloading vessels in Long Beach and Los Angeles from three to one to allow port terminals to reduce the number of containers clogging their facilities. In response to the PMA's actions ILWU spokesman for the Local 13 Adana Ortega said "the time needed to work a ship in the two ports…