Ports & Terminals

PMA/ILWU Will Discuss Contract Extension

In a potential breakthrough for Pacific Coast labor peace, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) announced that it will begin discussions with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) to extend the current PMA/ILWU contract which expires in 2019. A PMA spokesman told AJOT, “Today, we learned that the ILWU agreed to meet on “the concept of a contract extension.” As a next step, we will schedule a time in the next 30-60 days for PMA and ILWU leadership to discuss the topic.” After the chaos caused by the Pacific Coast longshore slowdown in 2015, the decision by the PMA and the ILWU to discuss a contract extension represents a tentative, but important first step, in restoring shipper and carrier confidence. The PMA noted in a statement that: “Earlier this year, in an effort to provide stability on the West Coast waterfront, PMA proposed talks on a contract extension with the ILWU. The current contract expires in 2019.”
Stas Margaronis
Stas Margaronis

WEST COAST CORRESPONDENT

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