Threat strike in Long Beach and Los Angeles postponed until 4 November

TOP MAGAZINE · Ports

The planned strike by terminal workers at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles has been postponed. Employers and the trade union have extended negotiations until 4 November, thereby averting immediate disruption for the time being, but the risk of disruption remains high.

Terminal handlers’ strike postponed at the last minute

The threat of a strike by around 250 terminal handlers, who are members of ILWU Local 26, has been temporarily averted. The employer, the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), and the trade union have decided to extend the negotiations, under the guidance of the federal mediation service, until 5.00 pm local time on Wednesday 4 November.

The strike was originally scheduled for 1 November. The extension has, for the time being, averted the possibility of serious disruption to port operations on the US west coast, but the labour dispute has not yet been resolved.

Key terminals heavily reliant on affected staff

Although only 250 employees are involved, the potential consequences are significant. The terminal security guards in question provide security services at terminals where approximately 85 per cent of the goods in the Port of Long Beach and 33 per cent in the Port of Los Angeles are handled.

The PMA warns that, should a strike break out, other union members are unlikely to cross the picket lines. This could bring ship handling, terminal operations and lorry transactions to a complete standstill at the eight locations designated by the union.

Stakes remain high following record months

The Los Angeles and Long Beach port complexes are currently operating at historically high levels. In September, a record volume of 2.04 million TEU was handled. This puts extra pressure on the negotiators, as a serious disruption at these crucial transhipment hubs could have consequences for supply chains across North America.

The current negotiations have been dragging on since mid-2025, following the expiry of the previous contract. Although employers say they are willing to work towards a fair solution, the union claims that progress is slow.

What does this mean for your shipment?

TOP’s analysis based on the above developments.

Planning

Shippers must continue to allow for a possible sudden halt to production from 4 November; it remains prudent to consider alternative scenarios and build up stock until it is clear whether an agreement will be reached.

Costs

For the time being, additional costs due to disruptions have been avoided, but in the event of a strike, delays and rebookings could still result in higher logistics costs and penalties.

Point to note

Continue to monitor developments on a daily basis; terminals and carriers will issue last-minute updates as soon as the situation changes. It may be necessary to respond quickly to shifts in capacity at neighbouring ports.