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C. TODAY
America’s seaports are critical gateways for The West Coast ports – which include the ports
goods entering and leaving the United States. of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle-Tacoma,
and Oakland – are critical economic gateways
UPDATE: The International Longshore and and are responsible for over 50 percent of
all U.S. imports. Essential to the operation of
Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime these ports are the dockworkers – the men and
Association (PMA) reached a tentative agreement women responsible for loading and unloading
in the West Coast labor dispute on June 14. The ocean vessels at these ports.
tentative agreement lasts for six years and covers
the 29 ports responsible for most U.S. imports. We ILWU workers and the port terminals renew
are pleased the Biden Administration listened to labor contracts every few years. The union
the Chamber’s call for intervention which resulted leadership and the port terminals – represented
in this quick resolution. In a statement on June by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) –
15, Suzanne Clark commended both sides for started negotiating a new contract in May 2022
reaching an agreement and averting widespread and initial agreements on healthcare and other
work stoppage and economic harm. benefits indicated that negotiations were on a
good path.
Background
America’s seaports are critical gateways for goods However, things appeared to bog down by the
entering and leaving the United States. Recent and end of the year, with frustrations spilling out
ongoing work stoppages at our largest seaports in March 2023 when ILWU members at the
along the West Coast are raising significant ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach stopped
staggering their lunch breaks, essentially
concerns among the business community that shutting down the ports for an extra two
a large-scale work stoppage is imminent – and hours each day and triggering significant
What You Need to Know delays and backups.
Disruptions continued when the
About West Coast Ports ILWU Local 13 withheld workers
on April 6 and April 7, in protest
of the lack of progress on contract
Labor Negotiations negotiations, which effectively shut
down the ports of Los Angeles and
By John Drake, Vice President, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Long Beach.
Supply Chain Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Tensions continued to escalate in
could be a devastating blow to America’s economy recent weeks, with complete shutdowns of
several West Coast ports on June 2nd as a result
during “peak season” – when sea traffic entering of worker no-shows at the ports of Los Angeles,
our ports is at its highest. Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma, and Seattle.
On Friday, June 9 U.S. Chamber President and Unfortunately, strikes and lockouts related
CEO Suzanne Clark sent a letter to President to ILWU-PMA negotiations are not without
Biden urging the administration to intervene precedent. Every negotiation over the last 20
immediately in the West Coast port negotiations years has seen at least a short-term service
by appointing an independent mediator to help disruption, however any service disruption has
the two parties reach an agreement that prevents negative consequences, ultimately snarling
significant economic harm to U.S. families and supply chains and hurting businesses.
the economy.
What’s at stake
What’s the situation?
U.S. ports are gateways for goods entering our
Twenty nine West Coast ports and the country, and there is every reason to expect that
International Longshore and Warehouse traffic coming through these ports will continue
Union (ILWU), who represent approximately to grow in the coming years.
15,500 dockworkers, were in the final stages
of negotiating a new labor contract that covers But these recent actions are souring many
everything from pay to operational work rules. shippers from using the West Coast ports.
13 AMCHAM SOUTH CHINA
America’s seaports are critical gateways for The West Coast ports – which include the ports
goods entering and leaving the United States. of Los Angeles, Long Beach, Seattle-Tacoma,
and Oakland – are critical economic gateways
UPDATE: The International Longshore and and are responsible for over 50 percent of
all U.S. imports. Essential to the operation of
Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime these ports are the dockworkers – the men and
Association (PMA) reached a tentative agreement women responsible for loading and unloading
in the West Coast labor dispute on June 14. The ocean vessels at these ports.
tentative agreement lasts for six years and covers
the 29 ports responsible for most U.S. imports. We ILWU workers and the port terminals renew
are pleased the Biden Administration listened to labor contracts every few years. The union
the Chamber’s call for intervention which resulted leadership and the port terminals – represented
in this quick resolution. In a statement on June by the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) –
15, Suzanne Clark commended both sides for started negotiating a new contract in May 2022
reaching an agreement and averting widespread and initial agreements on healthcare and other
work stoppage and economic harm. benefits indicated that negotiations were on a
good path.
Background
America’s seaports are critical gateways for goods However, things appeared to bog down by the
entering and leaving the United States. Recent and end of the year, with frustrations spilling out
ongoing work stoppages at our largest seaports in March 2023 when ILWU members at the
along the West Coast are raising significant ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach stopped
staggering their lunch breaks, essentially
concerns among the business community that shutting down the ports for an extra two
a large-scale work stoppage is imminent – and hours each day and triggering significant
What You Need to Know delays and backups.
Disruptions continued when the
About West Coast Ports ILWU Local 13 withheld workers
on April 6 and April 7, in protest
of the lack of progress on contract
Labor Negotiations negotiations, which effectively shut
down the ports of Los Angeles and
By John Drake, Vice President, Transportation, Infrastructure, and Long Beach.
Supply Chain Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
Tensions continued to escalate in
could be a devastating blow to America’s economy recent weeks, with complete shutdowns of
several West Coast ports on June 2nd as a result
during “peak season” – when sea traffic entering of worker no-shows at the ports of Los Angeles,
our ports is at its highest. Long Beach, Oakland, Tacoma, and Seattle.
On Friday, June 9 U.S. Chamber President and Unfortunately, strikes and lockouts related
CEO Suzanne Clark sent a letter to President to ILWU-PMA negotiations are not without
Biden urging the administration to intervene precedent. Every negotiation over the last 20
immediately in the West Coast port negotiations years has seen at least a short-term service
by appointing an independent mediator to help disruption, however any service disruption has
the two parties reach an agreement that prevents negative consequences, ultimately snarling
significant economic harm to U.S. families and supply chains and hurting businesses.
the economy.
What’s at stake
What’s the situation?
U.S. ports are gateways for goods entering our
Twenty nine West Coast ports and the country, and there is every reason to expect that
International Longshore and Warehouse traffic coming through these ports will continue
Union (ILWU), who represent approximately to grow in the coming years.
15,500 dockworkers, were in the final stages
of negotiating a new labor contract that covers But these recent actions are souring many
everything from pay to operational work rules. shippers from using the West Coast ports.
13 AMCHAM SOUTH CHINA
