Longshoreman On the West Coast Reach A Contract Resolution
Over the course of 14 days, longshoreman along the West Coast conducted labor slowdowns and stoppages. Fortunately, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have reached a tentative deal. Despite an agreement being made, shippers will have to continue dealing with supply chain disruptions.
How the Resolution Was Reached
After over a year of negotiations over various stipulations, the ILWU and PMA reached a resolution. The new contract decided between the two parties is intended to last six years. It will cover all 22,000 workers at the 29 ports along the West Coast.
The ILWU and PMA reached this resolution with the help of U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su. After the agreement was agreed upon, PMA president James McKenna expressed his satisfaction by saying “We are pleased to have reached an agreement that recognizes the heroic efforts and personal sacrifices of the ILWU workforce in keeping our ports operating.”
President of the ILWU, Willie Adams, made the joint statement, “we are pleased to turn our full attention back to the operation of the West Coast ports.” Despite the good news, the details of this new contract have not been released and the agreement has yet to be ratified.
The Aftermath
The longshoreman labor slowdowns and outright stoppages are still having a serious impact on West Coast ports.
A few locations that have been severely affected include:
- Los Angeles
- Long Beach
- Oakland
According to the logistics data provider FreightWaves, there are many vessels that have been delayed at West Coast ports. Without workers to perform their necessary operations, ships haven’t been able to leave these ocean terminals.
CNBC reports that it’ll take several days with a full workforce before all the containers at these ports can be cleared. As a result, shippers will still have to deal with supply chain disruptions and delays. Fortunately, these problems are likely to subside as longshoreman begin returning to work.
What R+L Global Logistics Can Do to Help
At R+L Global Logistics, we have the personnel and services to help you get around the delays caused by the aftermath of the longshoreman slowdown.
Some ways we can help you do this include:
- International air transport
- Transload services
- Drayage
In addition to our useful services, you can also contact one of our team members at (877) 510-9133. They can provide you with more information and answer any additional questions you might have.