LOS ANGELES - Labor talks covering more than 22,000 workers at U.S. seaports stretching from California to Washington State are ongoing, the union and employer group said in a joint statement on Thursday.
The nation's busiest ocean trade gateway at Los Angeles and Long Beach, including the nation's busiest ocean trade gateway, have been without a contract since the previous one expired on July 1. The Pacific Maritime Association PMA representing employers and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union ILWU started talks in May.
Major retailers and other shippers have been moving cargo to East and Gulf Coast ports to avoid labor disruptions at West Coast ports, resulting in market-share losses for the latter.
The ILWU and PMA are committed to resolving remaining issues as quickly as possible and have reached a tentative agreement on key issues such as health benefits.
They said that the talks are on an ongoing basis until an agreement is reached.