About 250 union watchmen at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach could strike as early as 5 p.m. Pacific time Sunday, Nov. 1, threatening cargo operations at the nation’s busiest container port complex if negotiators fail to reach a new labor agreement.
Members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 26 have authorized a strike, according to the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents employers. The employers group said negotiations are continuing with the assistance of federal mediators.
The potential disruption could extend well beyond the security workforce. PMA said the watchmen represent about 2% of ILWU workers at the two ports, but work at terminals handling roughly 85% of Long Beach’s cargo and 33% of Los Angeles’ cargo. The employer group expects other ILWU members would honor picket lines, potentially halting vessel, yard and gate operations at affected facilities.
The watchmen’s previous agreement expired in July 2025, and employees have continued working under extensions. The latest extension expires Sunday, following more than a year of negotiations that have left the union and employers divided.
PMA said significant differences remain but pledged to keep negotiating.
“The Pacific Maritime Association remains committed to reaching a fair agreement with ILWU Local 26 at the bargaining table, and we will continue to negotiate in good faith through the November 1 deadline and beyond if necessary,” the association said in an email to FreightWaves.
Employers said their offer includes wage increases and pension improvements. The local has not detailed its demands. The PMA said full-time watchmen currently earn an average of more than $170,000 annually, plus fully employer-paid health care and pension benefits.
The contract of Local 26 members is separate from the coastwide agreement covering ILWU longshore workers and marine clerks, which runs through 2028.
The strike threat comes as the LA–Long Beach complex is already contending with a backlog of containers awaiting inland rail transportation. Terminal congestion and difficulties positioning enough rail equipment in Southern California have contributed to delays, raising concerns about the movement of holiday merchandise toward the eastern United States.
Why it matters: A strike by just 250 watchmen could become a much larger cargo shutdown if other union dockworkers honor the local’s picket lines.
Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
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Port Houston container volumes jump 11% as imports surge in September
Canada port reaches new longshore union labor deal
New ‘conundrum’: Asia-US, Europe ocean rates diverge
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