Thursday evening, the Port of Los Angeles announced that the Union and Employers were back at the bargaining table.  The Port's representative indicated that it's not yet clear what affect this will have on job actions at the 14 area wide terminals.  We hope this is a positive sign, however, that we'll see a quick resolution to this challenge facing our clients. 

Currently, nine terminals are shut down at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. ILWU dockworkers refused to cross picket lines set up by the union's clerical workers. If the terminals remain closed through the weekend, gridlock would be almost guaranteed as most ships call at the ports on the weekend.

The clerical workers do not have contracts with four other container terminals in the area, and those facilities in LA and Long Beach were operating normally Thursday.

Talks are ongoing at Pacific Northwest ports where ILWU grain handlers are bracing for potential labor actions as well.

The National Retail Federation has urged President Obama to immediately get involved in the stalled contract negotiations. "A prolonged strike at the country's two busiest ports would have a devastating impact on the U.S. economy," said Matthew Shay, NRF president and CEO, in a letter to the president.

Liberty will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide our clients with regular updates as they become available. Please contact your Liberty representative to discuss any specific shipment concerns or to review our contingency plans for future cargo movements.