Federal mediators announced last night that they will assist in West Coast port contract talks, following a joint request from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the private terminal operators, the Pacific Maritime Association.
Jon Slangerup, Port of Long Beach Chief Executive, addressed the announcement by issuing the following statement: “We congratulate the ILWU and PMA for both agreeing to mediation. We urgently need a resolution to their long contract negotiations so they can join all of our industry stakeholders in restoring and improving productivity at all West Coast ports.”