New West Coast waterfront contract heads to rank-and-file

New West Coast waterfront contract heads to rank-and-file The more than 100-member caucus of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union has approved sending a tentative West Coast waterfront contract to the union's more than 25,000 members for ratification.
   Copies of the proposed six-year contract with the Pacific Maritime Association have been sent to union halls at 29 West Coast ports for discussion with the membership.
   A rank-and-file vote on the contract, according to the union, is scheduled for the week of Sept. 8 through Sept. 14.
   Negotiation on the contract began in March and extended past the current 2002 contract expiration on July 1. Following a July 28 tentative agreement on the new contract, the union and PMA agreed to extend the 2002 contract until ratification votes are completed.
   Details of the tentative contract have not be released.
   The PMA is also reviewing the new contract and the association's membership of 70 plus ocean carrier, stevedore and terminal operator firms are expected to approve it.