Tentative deal between PMA and ILWU to end US West Coast ports dispute

In a joint statement the PMA and ILWU said they had reached tentative agreement on a new five-year contract with the assistance of US Secretary of Labour Tom Perez and Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service deputy director Scot Beckenbaugh.

Perez had set a deadline of Friday for an agreement to be reached. No details of the deal have been released and it is still subject of ratification by both parties.

“After more than nine months of negotiations, we are pleased to have reached an agreement that is good for workers and for the industry,” said PMA president James McKenna and ILWU president Bob McEllrath in a joint statement. “We are also pleased that our ports can now resume full operations.”

On Twitter Perez commented: “Labour & management have ended the ports dispute giving the American people peace of mind we need to continue building our middle class, together.

“If it weren’t the last issue, it would have been solved earlier. But both sides in ports dispute committed to solving problem and did it.”

The dispute has caused huge delays at US West Coast ports with 33 containerships reported to be anchored out Los Angeles and Long Beach ports last week. The resulting backlog could take months to clear.