Dock Workers, Port Reach Agreement

West Coast longshoremen and port managers came to terms July 15, after weeks of contract talks, a strike that shut down the Port of Oakland and work slowdowns at all the coast’s major ports.

The details of the three-year settlement were not released, pending ratification of the contract by members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the executive board of the Pacific Maritime Association.

The agreement, if ratified, would cover more than 10,000 dockworkers at ports in California, Oregon and Washington that are expected to handle roughly $285 billion in container cargo this year – 50% of all waterborne cargo in the United States.

"We are pleased to have reached a contract to provide ILWU members with a package that rewards the hard work our membership puts forward every day at West Coast ports," said James Spinosa, the union’s chief negotiator.

PMA and the dockworkers had been in negotiations since May, and the contract expired earlier this month.

PMA President Joseph Miniace said the group was "pleased we could offer the ILWU membership generous increases in their pension and welfare benefits."

In 1998, the average annual salary for a dockworkers was $99,000, clerks made $117,617 and foremen made $156,251, according to the association.

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