Both sides met Thursday with aid of federal mediator and negotiations are expected to continue on Friday.
Contract negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and Pacific Maritime Association resumed Thursday.
Representatives from both sides met face to face Thursday for the first time since last Friday, both with a federal mediator and separately with the mediator.
Contract talks are expected to resume today.
The Pacific Maritime Association had announced on Wednesday that it would not have ships loaded or unloaded on Thursday at West Coast terminals, or this coming holiday weekend because of reduced productivity by ILWU workers.
The ports of Seattle and Tacoma issued a statement on Thursday urging the two sides to “resolve the impasse in contract negotiations.”
The neighboring ports noted that when combined they are the third largest container gateway into the country after Los Angeles/Long Beach and New York/New Jersey, but ports “do not have a seat at the negotiating table.”
“However we have been exercising the limited options available to try to mitigate impacts on our customers and to keep cargo moving,” the ports said in a statement. “We share the frustration of the farmers, manufacturers, retailers, truckers and warehouse and distribution operators, who are suffering collateral damage as they continue to lose billions of dollars and lay off employees.
“A lockout or strike would put even more stress on the working people throughout our state who rely on ports for their livelihood,” the ports added. “This protracted negotiation is resulting in widespread economic damage and will have a lasting impact on our state’s economy. We risk losing our role as a critical gateway as shippers seek alternatives to West Coast ports.”
The Agriculture Transportation Coalition said 222 Washington agriculture and forest products companies and organizations delivered a message to their state’s congressional delegation.
AgTC said the slowdown and disruption of the West Coast ports is having a devastating impact on Washington farms, processors, and all related business that depend on a healthy Washington agriculture sector. “The injury is both immediate, with job losses already occurring, and permanent, as Washington agriculture is losing its foothold in the global markets, as foreign customers are seeking and finding other sources of food, farm and fiber,” said the coalition.
The Marine Exchange of Southern California said Friday morning 27 ships are anchored outside the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach including 19 container ships. There are five more containerships waiting for berths on Friday than there were on Thursday.
Kip Louttit, executive director of the exchange, said that 41 ships are due to arrive between Friday and Monday, with 23 due to anchor and 18 due to berth. He said this total includes 19 containerships with 13 of them due to anchor and six due to berth.
PMA and ILWU resume West Coast port contract talks
