Concerns over Clerical Workers’ June 30th Contract Expiry at Long Beach/LA Ports

Negotiations have started for a new contract between clerical office workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach and the shipping lines and terminal operators, but there are concerns over potential disruptions of cargo flow if talks do not go well.

The office workers are represented by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63 Office Clerical Unit (OCU), and their current six-year contract expires on June 30. Initial discussions between OCU and employers have not tackled any core issues yet. In past negotiations, OCU’s concerns were the outsourcing of jobs to workers out of state and automation.

These talks have additional seriousness this year, because of the ongoing ILWU-PWA coastwide contract talks for 15,000 ports workers who have been without a contract for 9 months. Retailers and shippers are worried that complications in OCU negotiations would lead to picket lines place around marine terminals which dockworkers would not pass, which has happened before.

Sources:
1. ILWU Office Clerical Unit negotiations under way in LA-LB, Journal of Commerce, Mar 6, 2023. Accessed Mar 16, 2023.