Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach strike deadline pushed to Nov. 20 as watchmen talks continue
The Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26, which represents about 250 watchmen who guard terminals in Los Angeles and Long Beach, moved their strike deadline to Nov. 20. Terminals keep working while talks go on with federal mediators.
The deadline was first Nov. 1, then Nov. 4, then midnight Nov. 6, and is now Nov. 20, FreightWaves reported. The watchmen's contract expired in July 2025, and they have kept working under extensions. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service is helping. PMA said it still aims to settle on fair terms through negotiation, Bloomberg reported.
The watchmen are about 2% of ILWU workers at the two ports, but they check every truck and worker coming through the terminal gates, Reuters reported. A strike would disrupt terminals that handle about 85% of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Los Angeles cargo, according to PMA. Local 26 members guard six container terminals, and on Oct. 27 PMA said longshore workers and marine clerks would likely back the watchmen in a walkout.
The dispute is separate from the West Coast longshore contract that covers more than 22,000 workers at 29 ports and runs to July 2028. Both ports set cargo records in September. Bloomberg also reported that the Vincent Thomas Bridge, a link between the ports and a major highway, faces a repair closure of more than a year.
Why it matters: Drayage drivers and carriers pulling containers out of LA and Long Beach could face shut gates at six terminals if talks fail by Nov. 20. Check terminal notices before dispatch and plan around the Vincent Thomas Bridge closure.
Sources
- LA Port Strike Threat Deferred Again As Labor Talks Drag OngCaptain (Bloomberg), Nov 7
- Another extension delays potential strike at Los Angeles, Long Beach portsBaird Maritime (Reuters), Nov 9
- Strike at Los Angeles-Long Beach port delayed as union contract talks continueFreightWaves, Nov 9