The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have successfully reached a preliminary agreement on Wednesday following extensive negotiations spanning over a year. The previous contract between the two parties expired on July 1, 2022, and during the past year, approximately 22,000 dockworkers have continued their work while both sides worked diligently to\u00a0finalize a mutually beneficial agreement.<\/p>\n
This newly proposed six-year agreement encompasses the workforce at all 29 West Coast ports. This is encouraging, following the recent disruptions caused by work stoppages that resulted in the temporary closure of several port terminals along the West Coast.<\/p>\n
In a joint statement, the PMA and the ILWU acknowledge the valuable contribution of Acting Labor Secretary Julie Su, who facilitated discussions between both parties earlier this week, leading to this positive outcome.<\/p>\n
Currently the terms of the agreement are confidential.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are pleased to have reached an agreement that recognizes the heroic efforts and personal sacrifices of the ILWU workforce in keeping our ports operating,\u201d James McKenna, president of the PMA, and Willie Adams, president of the ILWU, said in the joint statement.
\n\u201cWe are also pleased to turn our full attention back to the operation of the West Coast Ports,\u201d they said.<\/p>\n