The labor union representing dock workers at 29 ports along the West Coast has tentatively agreed to a new labor contract after more than a year of negotiations, according to a joint statement released on Wednesday by the union and port managers. If ratified by both parties, the agreement will bring an end to a long-standing labor dispute that had temporarily closed some of North America's most important ports of entry. While the details of the contract have not yet been disclosed, business groups have emphasized the importance of the West Coast ports for the nation's trade, with container ships from Asia regularly bringing in billions of dollars worth of goods each year.
The issue of pay emerged as a sticking point during negotiations, with workers seeking retroactive pay provisions to compensate for the time they worked without a contract. The Biden administration became involved in mediating the dispute, dispatching Labor Secretary Julie Su to help reach a deal.
