USWC dockers' union and employers agree contract milestone

Photo: Port of Seattle

Talks between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) have led to a “tentative agreement related to maintenance of health benefits”, according to this report from gCaptain. A joint statement from the two parties said health benefits were an important part of the contract negotiations. “The labour contract being negotiated covers more than 22,000 longshore workers at 29 US west coast ports. The previous agreement expired on 1 July and negotiations, which kicked off 10 May, are continuing without a contract extension.”