LA/Long Beach: Port Watchmen Strike Deadline Is Nov. 4
About 250 ILWU Local 26 watchmen could shut terminals that handle 85% of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Los Angeles cargo.
Key facts
ILWU Local 26 and the Pacific Maritime Association extended talks: the new deadline is 5 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday, Nov. 4 (the earlier one was Nov. 1).
The dispute covers roughly 250 watchmen (terminal security). Their prior contract expired in July 2025. The sides have not disclosed the specific issues.
Their terminals handle about 85% of cargo at Long Beach and 33% at Los Angeles. PMA warns that other ILWU members may not cross a picket line, which could hit vessel, yard and gate operations.
The main West Coast longshore contract (about 22,000 workers, 29 ports) runs through 2028 and is not part of this dispute.
For brokers: the ports just set a record, about 2.04 million TEUs in September. If the deadline passes without a deal, build wait time and schedule cushion into drayage quotes.
Source: FreightWaves, gCaptain