The immediate future of the global supply chain rests on a bargaining table in San Francisco, where the union representing all West Coast dockworkers is hashing out a new contract with the assembled bosses of maritime shipping.
June 6, 2022International Longshore and Warehouse Union
Government, Business 
A cargo ship is unloaded at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)
Longshore Union, Which Handles West Coast Containers, Could Face Bankruptcy
A cargo ship is unloaded at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro. (Allen J. Schaben/Los Angeles Times)The union that handles every shipping container that crosses West Coast docks is bracing for bankruptcy. It’s a rare prospect for a bargaining group, and it’s rattling organized labor nationally.
January 29, 2020 Business, Technology, Autonomous 
Automated stacking cranes at the Port of Long Beach, Calif. (Tim Rue/Bloomberg News)
Talks Stall as Union, Terminal Operators Hit Roadblock Over Automation
Automated stacking cranes at the Port of Long Beach, Calif. (Tim Rue/Bloomberg News)Contract talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance ended on Dec. 6 after a disagreement over automation at terminals, leaving negotiations at a standstill without future talks scheduled.
December 13, 2017 Business 
Bob Riha Jr./Reuters
West Coast Ports, Longshoremen Ratify Contract Extension to 2022
Bob Riha Jr./ReutersWest Coast longshoremen at 29 ports in California, Oregon and Washington ratified a three-year contract extension with the Pacific Maritime Association on Aug. 4, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union announced.
August 7, 2017 Government 
Peoples World/Flickr
ILWU Rank-and-File Vote Begins After Leaders Back Contract
Peoples World/FlickrInternational Longshore and Warehouse Union leaders recommended approval of a tentative five-year contract, clearing the way for a vote by 20,000 rank-and-file dockworkers over the next month.
April 6, 2015