West Coast Port Talks Continue, Parties Say

The Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore & Warehouse Union confirmed that talks are continuing past the June 30 contract expiration without freight delays.

 

The joint statement late July 1 by the management group, on behalf of port and shipping line operators, and the union that represents almost 20,000 workers said, “Cargo will keep moving, and normal operations will continue at the ports until an agreement can be reached.”

Talks have been continuing since early May, though shippers have been increasing freight levels for several months in case the ports that handle about half of U.S. container traffic were closed when the contract expired.

“Both sides understand the strategic importance of the ports to the local, regional and U.S. economies and are mindful of the need to finalize a new coastwide contract as soon as possible,” the statement said.