Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have voted to approve a new six-year coast-wide contract with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), according to an announcement made by the ILWU on Thursday. The union revealed that 75% of the voting ILWU members agreed to ratify the contract, which was finalized in June following 13-months of tenuous negotiations.
“The negotiations for this contract were protracted and challenging. I am grateful to our rank and file for their strength, to our Negotiating Committee for their vision and tenacity, and to those that supported giving the ILWU and PMA the space that we needed to get to this result.”
Willie Adams, President
ILWU International
The new contract is set to expire on July 1, 2028, replacing the previous agreement that expired on July 1, 2022. Certification of the voting results was conducted by the ILWU’s coast balloting committee.
BENEFIT TO WEST COAST PORTS
“This contract provides an important framework for the hard work ahead to overcome new competitive challenges and to continue to position the West Coast ports as destinations of choice for shippers worldwide. From San Diego to Bellingham, these ports have long been the primary gateways for cargo coming into and leaving the United States, and our interests are aligned in ensuring they can effectively, and efficiently, handle the capacity growth that drives economies and jobs.’’
Jim McKenna, President and CEO
Pacific Maritime Association
Ratification of the agreement is expected to lead to the return of discretionary cargo to West Coast ports. During the extended negotiations, shippers had diverted a significant amount of discretionary cargo to the East and Gulf coasts to mitigate the disruptions caused by job actions taken by longshoremen. “The collective bargaining system worked,” said Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Gene Seroka, “this contract brings long-term stability and confidence to our customers as we re-double our efforts to bring more cargo back to the Port of Los Angeles, the premier gateway to and from the Pacific Rim.’’
CONTRACT HIGHLIGHTS
The terms of the new contract include a 32% salary increase over the course of six years, with retroactive pay dating back to July 1, 2022. Additionally, a one-time $70 million bonus will be distributed among the ILWU’s membership of 20,000 individuals as a recognition of their efforts in working through the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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