About 250 port watchmen represented by International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 26 could strike at eight container terminals in Los Angeles and Long Beach when their contract extension expires Sunday, November 1.
The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which represents employers, says the watchmen make up only 2% of the ILWU workforce at the two ports. However, the terminals where they work handle about 85% of Long Beach’s cargo and 33% of Los Angeles’. PMA expects other ILWU members not to cross Local 26 picket lines, which could halt vessel, yard, and gate operations.
The union’s strike notice lists APM Terminals, Long Beach Container Terminal, Total Terminals International, SSA at C-60, Pacific Container Terminal, and three other locations. Local 26 President Luisa Gratz said talks since 2025 have produced “nothing of value.” PMA says it will keep negotiating through the deadline and beyond, with help from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
The watchmen’s contract is separate from the coastwide ILWU agreement, which runs through 2028. The threat comes after a record month for the ports, which handled a combined 2.04 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in September. The National Retail Federation expects imports at major U.S. container ports to ease from 2.25 million TEUs in October to 2 million in November as the holiday rush winds down.
IAM Member Impact: Members with household goods or consolidated containers arriving at, or departing from, Los Angeles and Long Beach should check which terminal their cargo is at or will be routed through. Where possible, arrange pickups and deliveries at affected terminals before November 1. If a strike goes ahead, expect gate closures, vessel delays, and possible diversions, and ask carriers how demurrage and detention charges will be handled during any stoppage. Members should also tell customers with shipments due in the coming weeks about possible delays.
Source: gCaptain; The Maritime Executive