The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced on April 20 that it had reached a "tentative agreement" with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) on "certain key issues" but with very little information on the specifics.

Various reports said the tentative agreement covers 22,000 dockworkers at 29 West Coast ports, including two of the US' busiest ports — Port of Los Angeles and Port of Long Beach.

"The parties have agreed not to discuss the terms of the agreement as negotiations continue," said an ILWU statement.

This comes as reports of worker actions at the major ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach (LA/LB) are still being reported. These protests are reportedly based on ongoing requests for "automation" at the terminals.

A series of work stoppages over the course of the year has since impacted volumes at the Port of LA and Long Beach — as uncertainties surrounding the negotiations drove shippers to the US East & Gulf ports.

In July 2022, ILWU and the PMA also announced that a "tentative agreement" was reached related to the maintenance of health benefits, but both parties opt not to disclose the terms as negotiations continue.

In February 2023, the parties also released a joint press release noting the continued negotiation and that both the ILWU and the PMA remain hopeful of eventually reaching a deal.

According to various reports, the union representing longshore workers (ILWU) and the industry representing shippers (PMA) are negotiating new contracts with a focus on wages and the role of automation, as the previous agreement expired on July 1, 2022.

"The ILWU and PMA meet regularly in San Francisco to continue negotiating the collective bargaining agreement and are committed to reaching an agreement," ILWU said in an earlier statement.