Strike Threat at 8 Terminals in Los Angeles and Long Beach Ports Starting November 1

International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 26 warned of a potential strike at eight terminals in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach starting November 1, weeks after the complex set a container handling record.

Union President Louisa Gratz said in an October 23 letter that the union has been engaged in unsuccessful contract negotiations with employers and the Pacific Maritime Association since 2025, and that the latest contract extension expires on November 1. She added that the association recently requested the involvement of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the union agreed, but "nothing of value resulted from that."

The eight terminals include: APM Terminals, Long Beach Container Terminal, Total Terminals International, SSA terminals at C-60, A-90, and LB 206, Pacific Container Terminal, and the OH 55 terminal. The union represents maritime security officers and guards responsible for gate and cargo security at the terminals, and its contract is separate from the coastwide agreement that runs through 2028 and covers about 22,000 workers.

Together, the two ports handled 2.04 million TEUs in September, a monthly record, while the National Retail Federation expects imports to decline from 2.25 million TEUs in October to 2 million TEUs in November. The letter clarified that it does not confirm a strike will occur and that the extent of any disruption is unknown, while the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots said it would provide guidance to its members at affected docks.

What Do These Terms Mean?

Container Terminal: A dock or facility at a port where container ships are unloaded and loaded, operated by an entity independent of the port authority.

Twenty-Foot Equivalent Unit (TEU): A unit of measurement for cargo capacity at ports, equivalent to a 20-foot container, used to measure container handling volume.

Pacific Maritime Association: An organization representing terminal operators and employers at U.S. West Coast ports, negotiating with the longshore union.