The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have agreed to take a 72-hour break from negotiations, and the previously-expired contract will resume during that time. 

In a joint press statement it was stated the reason for the brief suspension was so the ILWU could attend to an unrelated negotiation taking place in the Pacific Northwest.

During the break, starting at 8am on Tuesday (July 8) Pacific Time, through to 8am Friday (July 11), both parties have agreed to extent the previous six-year contract, which expired last week.

The PMA and ILWU are negotiating a contract covering nearly 20,000 longshore workers at 29 West Coast ports.

While there have been no reported delays as yet and it is a promising sign that join statements are being issued, some in the industry are being cautious with the shipments they send through the ports in question.

Photo: Port of Oakland - Wikimedia Commons

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