The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore & Warehouse Union (ILWU) have given the official “thumbs up” to the new five-year labour contract at ports on the US West coast.

The ILWU gave its nod with 82% of the votes in favour of acceptance. The ratification ends almost a year of lengthy delays in moving cargo at the ports, and causing serious delays and cancellations to vessel scheduling, particularly on the Asia/USWC trade.

Reaction by the ports to the final acceptance of the new agreement, which will formally end an extensive period of negotiations and disputes that have wreaked havoc at the USWC ports for at least nine months, has come in thick and fast.

“Now we can get down to the important work of improving service to the shippers,” said Chris Lytle, Port of Oakland executive director.

Long Beach Board of Harbour Commissioners president Doug Drummond said: “This new pact is terrific for management and labour, and proves that by working together, we can build a partnership that will continue to help improve this economy and provide jobs all across the United States.”

Labour disputes along the US West coast slowed and, in most cases, brought container movement at ports to a near halt during the first two months of this year, although a tentative agreement signed on February 20 did help grind operations on the quayside back to some kind normality. Container backlogs have taken at least two months to get cargo moving again.

By Paul Richardson

Sea Freight Correspondent | London