The Pacific Maritime Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 26 have signed a contract extension through 5 p.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, Nov. 4, temporarily postponing a potential work stoppage at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach while negotiations continue.
The two sides will continue bargaining with assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The agreement provides additional time for talks but does not resolve the underlying labor dispute.
Local 26 represents approximately 250 watchmen who perform security-related duties at port terminals. According to PMA, those facilities handle roughly 85% of cargo moving through the Port of Long Beach and 33% at the Port of Los Angeles.
PMA said it remains committed to reaching a fair agreement at the bargaining table and avoiding disruption at the two ports, the busiest U.S. container hubs.
The watchmen’s previous agreement expired in July 2025, and employees have continued working under extensions while the union and employers negotiate a replacement. Local 26 members had authorized a potential strike ahead of the previous Nov. 1 deadline, according to PMA.
In an Oct. 23 letter, Local 26 President Luisa Gratz said negotiations with employers and PMA had been underway since 2025 without producing an agreement.
The union members earn an average of $170,000 a year. The sides hasn’t disclosed exact issues in the negotiations.
The watchmen’s negotiations are separate from the broader West Coast longshore labor agreement, which runs through 2028 and covers approximately 22,000 workers at 29 ports.
Although the watchmen account for about 2% of the ILWU workforce at the two ports, their role at major terminals creates the potential for a wider disruption. PMA has warned that other ILWU members could honor picket lines in the event of a strike, potentially interrupting vessel, yard and gate operations at affected facilities.
Why it matters: The extension gives negotiators more time to resolve a dispute involving about 250 watchmen at terminals handling substantial shares of Los Angeles and Long Beach cargo.
Read more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
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