A temporary agreement between the dockworkers' union and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (LA/LB) has been signed to prevent a short-term strike. This agreement has been extended until midnight on Friday, November 6, allowing operations at eight terminals located in this port complex to continue.
Strike Details and Contract Extension
About 250 dockworkers at the LA and LB ports have currently threatened to strike, which could halt activities at the eight existing terminals. Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 26, while issuing a strike authorization, reached an agreement with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents employers, on extending the deadline.
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This extension is the second time it has been implemented following plans for a strike last weekend. Negotiations will continue with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).
FMCS Role and Economic Impact
FMCS is a small, independent federal agency that plays a vital role in maintaining the U.S. economy and helps prevent, reduce, and resolve labor disputes and work stoppages. This agency is neither a regulatory agency nor an enforcement agency, but strengthens labor-management relations by providing mediation and facilitation services to employers and unions across the country.
Notably, dockworkers make up only 2% of the ILWU workers at these two ports, but they work at terminals that handle approximately 85% of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Los Angeles cargo. Other ILWU members are expected to honor the strike lines, which may halt operations of vessels, yards, and gates at the affected facilities.
The previous contract expired in July 2025, and employees under the extensions continue their work. Dockworkers are not part of an agreement signed in 2023 between 29 Pacific ports and 22,000 workers, which will expire in 2028.
Container ships and container shipping costs are of high importance to the chemical industry as most chemicals are transported in liquid form, while container ships transport polymers such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) that are shipped in granule form. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is also transported in containers. These ships also transport liquid chemicals in isotanks.
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