Strike Threat At California Ports Over, New Concerns For East And Gulf Coasts
Concerns about a strike at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach can finally be put to rest but there are new ones when it comes to talks involving ports on the other side of the country.


Concerns about a strike at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach can finally be put to rest but there are new ones when it comes to talks involving ports on the other side of the country.
Unions representing clerical workers at the Southern California ports say members have voted in favor of a new labor contract, following a tentative agreement between them and terminal operators being reached in December.
In a joint statement the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63 Office Clerical Unit and the Harbor Employees Association said the vote affects some 600 people who went on strike in December, shutting down the nation’s busiest port complex for eight days. A federal mediator was then brought in to resolve the matter. This latest contract runs through June 30, 2016.
John Fageaux, lead negotiator for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63 Office Clerical Unit and Stephen Berry, lead negotiator for the employers of the OCU at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, said, “The approved agreements, to be finalized in coming days, are good for workers, good for employers and – most of all – important in ensuring smooth operations at our Southern California ports. Our local, regional and national economies depend on these ports, and the agreements ratified tonight pave the way for continued growth in the years ahead.”
Meanwhile, there may be clouds on the horizon when it comes to labor talks involving East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, despite a tentative deal being reached between longshoremen and port operators earlier this month.
While members of the International Longshoremen’s Association are expected to vote and approve the deal most likely in March, published reports indicate time is running out to resolve issues specific to certain ports and talks are proceeding poorly. March 1 is the deadline to reach tentative agreements on local pacts, such as work rules and pensions, including for longshoremen at the Port of New York and New Jersey.
International Business Times and The Journal of Commerce says this means that even if ILA members approve the master contract, but the so-called side issues are not resolved, the overall pact would not go into effect. The reported reason is the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents freight terminal operators and owners of cargo ships, hasn’t been able to negotiate cost reductions for its members with the ILA. Plus the AFL-CIO is reportedly putting pressure on the ILA to keep a tough stance when it comes to the local talks.
There are fears that all of this could result in a strike by longshoremen from Maine to Texas, which would affect more than a third of U.S. imports, meaning less freight for some trucking companies to move and slowing the U.S. economy in the process.
More Drivers
How Top Trucking Fleets Improve Driver Retention [Video]
What do healthy snacks, optimized routing, and just picking up the phone have in common? They're all strategies the Best Fleets to Drive For are using to retain truck drivers.
Read More →
Trucker Path Adds Verisk CargoNet Theft Data to Navigation Platform
Trucker Path’s new cargo theft risk overlays give drivers and fleets visibility into high-risk areas, stolen commodity trends, and theft hotspots.
Read More →
Netradyne Intelligence Uses New AI Agents to Automate Response to In-Cab Camera Data
The company called the next-generation in-cab camera safety platform "a fundamental shift from systems that report on what happened to systems that actively drive what should happen next."
Read More →
Why Truck Detention Keeps Costing Fleets Time and Money
A 2024 ATRI study found detention affects nearly 40% of truckload stops and costs the industry more than $15 billion annually. Despite the toll on drivers, fleets, and supply chains, the problem remains stubbornly persistent.
Read More →
Prime Inc. to Open $7.9M Flagship Used-Truck Dealership
A new driver-focused facility to sell Prime Inc's used trucks and trailers will be the first purpose-built location in the company's history.
Read More →Short Takes: Inside K&B’s Truck Safety Tech
Listen to learn how K&B Transportation uses cellphone-blocking technology, speed management systems, weather geofencing, bridge avoidance tools, and more to improve driver safety.
Read More →
Nussbaum Expands Driver Compensation with Pay Raises, Profit Sharing
Nussbaum Transportation said its latest compensation package could push first-year driver earnings above $90,000 in key hiring markets.
Read More →Listen: Inside Modern Fleet Safety: AI, Cameras & Speed Control at K&B Transportation
Fleet safety is evolving fast—and technology is at the center of it. Learn how a former commercial vehicle enforcement officer turned director of safety at K&B Transportation is embracing real-world safety technology.
Read More →
Maverick Announces 2026 Driver Pay Raises
New raises for Maverick Transportation drivers will take effect on May 31, 2026.
Read More →
Illinois Trucker Indicted for Nearly $22,000 in Ohio Turnpike Toll Evasion
Authorities say an Illinois trucker avoided paying tolls for two years, and now faces felony charges, possible prison time, and forfeiture of his Freightliner tractor.
Read More →
