A union representing thousand of workers at US west coast ports has reached a tentative labor deal with port operators, which could resolve some slowdowns in the movement of goods in the region.

The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) reached a tentative agreement late yesterday for a six-year contract covering workers at 29 US west coast ports. Details of the agreement have not yet been released. The deal still needs to be ratified by both parties.

Acting US secretary of labor Julie Su helped broker the deal in San Francisco.

ILWU represents more than 22,000 workers at 29 US west coast ports, while PMA represents 70 ocean carriers and terminal operators on the region.

The last contract expired on 1 July 2022, with negotiations since then focused on wages and issues related to automation.

Some port operators said the labor dispute was not slowing operations, but others accused the union of withholding workers, leading to a call for the administration of President Joe Biden to intervene.

In December Congress and the White House intervened in a long-running rail worker dispute, forcing unions to accept terms of a deal to avert a strike that could have crippled the movement of goods throughout North America.

View article here.