West Coast Update

Posted 12/15/2014

Congestion and delays remain the norm at the West Coast ports. The ILWU and PMA are in the negotiating room today, but we have no information on any progress they may have made. The ILWU leadership will convene in a caucus in San Francisco on December 15, and results will determine the next steps in the contract process. Please see the article published in the JOC for more detailed information on the process and the current pay scales of ILWU workers.

Congestion surcharges also remain in play, but the FMC is pressuring the steamship lines to avoid implementation of the surcharges. We will continue to report on this issue and will advise individual members as to the impact on upcoming arrivals.