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Employers, watchmen at California ports extend contract talks

By Thomson Reuters Nov 7, 2026 | 8:35 AM

NEW YORK, Nov 7 (Reuters) – The Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports employer group and the ​International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local ‌26 extended their bargaining deadline through November 20, averting a potential strike by about 2% of workers at the busiest ‌US container ​port complex.

• The ⁠Pacific Maritime Association said ⁠on Friday that additional talks were scheduled with the union representing about 250 maritime watchmen at the ​ports.

• Local 26 did not immediately return a request for ⁠comment.

• The union watchmen ⁠control and inspect truck ​and employee entries at terminal gates, provide ​terminal security and guard and track ‌critical cargo crossing the docks.

• A strike by the ILWU watchmen would disrupt operations at terminals that handle ⁠roughly 85% of the cargo at Long Beach and 33% at Los Angeles, PMA ⁠said.

• ‌The Los Angeles and ⁠Long Beach ports each reported ​all-time ‌cargo volume records for ​September. Those ⁠shipments included retail goods for holiday sales, equipment for AI data center construction and auto parts.

(Reporting by Karen Brettell; Editing by Sergio Non and ​Tomasz Janowski)