West Coast Ports: Contract is Ratified
U.S. West Coast ports ILWU ratified a five-year contract with terminal operators and shipping companies, the union announced Friday. The new five-year labor pact, which runs through June 2019 is retroactive to July 2014. This formally ends the labor conflict that slowed the movement of goods at the country’s largest gateways to an almost standstill.
In a statement Friday, Robert McEllrath, president of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union, said about the negotiations:
“were some of the longest and most difficult in our recent history. Membership unity and hard work by the negotiating committee made this fair outcome possible.”
The 20,000 members of the union at 29 West Coast ports, voted 82% in favor of approving the five-year contract with the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents their employers. The PMA’s membership ratified the contract terms earlier this week.
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