LONG BEACH, CA — A labor dispute involving approximately 250 maritime security workers could disrupt cargo operations across much of the Port of Long Beach if union representatives and waterfront employers fail to reach an agreement before a 5 p.m. Wednesday deadline.
The workers, represented by International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 26, have authorized a strike following more than a year of contract negotiations with the Pacific Maritime Association, which represents shipping companies and terminal operators. The two sides agreed Friday to extend their existing contract, postponing a potential walkout originally threatened for Nov. 1. The extension expires Wednesday evening, with negotiations continuing under federal mediation.
Although the watchmen account for only about 2% of the ILWU workforce at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, they work at terminals handling approximately 85% of Long Beach's cargo, according to the employers' association. A strike could have consequences far beyond the relatively small number of workers directly involved.
Other ILWU members, including longshore workers and marine clerks, are not expected to cross Local 26 picket lines, potentially halting vessel loading, container-yard activity and truck-gate operations at affected terminals. The disruption could extend to neighboring Los Angeles, where terminals employing Local 26 watchmen handle approximately 33% of the port's cargo, according to the association.
The watchmen's previous labor agreement expired in July 2025, but employees have continued working under extensions while negotiations proceed. Their responsibilities include monitoring terminal entrances, inspecting vehicles and personnel, providing security and safeguarding cargo moving through the docks.
The latest extension, announced Oct. 30, gave negotiators several additional days to resolve the dispute with assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Local 26 has accused employers of failing to make meaningful progress, while the Pacific Maritime Association has maintained that significant differences remain between the two sides.
The association has said it remains committed to reaching an agreement without disrupting operations at the nation's two busiest container ports. The dispute is separate from the broader West Coast longshore labor agreement, which covers approximately 22,000 workers and remains in effect through 2028.
The potential walkout threatens a critical link in Southern California's supply chain, with consequences for trucking companies, warehouse operators, importers and retailers that depend on cargo moving through the waterfront. Even a temporary interruption could delay container pickups, deliveries and shipments moving inland from the port.
In a Nov. 3 shipping advisory, logistics company Alba Wheels Up reported that terminals were operating normally, but warned that as many as eight terminal locations across the two ports could face disruption if negotiations failed. The company advised customers to monitor developments closely as the deadline approached.
The immediate outcome now rests on whether negotiators reach a new agreement, approve another extension or allow the current arrangement to expire.
No strike had been confirmed in the latest reports available Wednesday, and the expiration of the contract extension would not necessarily mean an immediate shutdown.
The current deadline remains 5 p.m. Pacific.
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