Port update: Dockworkers ratify work agreement that ended months-long port slowdown, cargo backlog

Twenty-nine West Coast Ports experienced major congestion following months of labor disputes between port workers and port employers, beginning last summer and continuing into February. The tentative agreement reached in February has now been ratified by both parties.Twenty-nine West Coast Ports experienced major congestion following months of labor disputes between port workers and port employers, beginning last summer and continuing into February. The tentative agreement reached in February has now been ratified by both parties.

West Coast dockworkers and port employers have ratified the five-year contract tentatively reached in February following nine months of negotiations.

On May 22, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union certified that the new contract had received 82 percent approval by its members. The previous contract, ratified in 2008, had received 75 percent of their vote.

Port employers, represented by the Pacific Maritime Association, said they “voted overwhelmingly” for the contract May 20.

The ILWU said the contract will “maintain excellent health benefits, improve wages, pensions and job safety protections; limit outsourcing of jobs and provide an improved system for resolving job disputes.”

Last fall, as negotiations continued over arbitration and other issues, the PMA said the ILWU began a work slowdown. In response, the largest West Coast ports suspended nighttime vessel work shifts. Later, they suspended ship work assignments on weekends and holidays to avoid paying premium wages.

Consequently, port congestion continued to ramp up until Feb. 20, when both sides announced a tentative agreement.