LA Port Strike Threat Deferred Again As Labor Talks Drag On

By Laura Curtis

Nov 7, 2026 (Bloomberg) –The union representing about 250 security workers at the US’s busiest ports agreed to continue negotiations on a new labor contract for two more weeks, their employers said.

The latest extension goes through Nov. 20, with additional talks scheduled with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 26 scheduled during that period, the Pacific Maritime Association said in a statement. The two sides had already extended a couple of times, initially from Nov. 1 to Nov. 4, and then to midnight Friday. 

“PMA remains committed to reaching a fair agreement at the bargaining table that avoids disruption at the nation’s two busiest ports,” it said.

The Friday deadline had coincided with the very moment that the Vincent Thomas Bridge — which connects the ports to a major highway — is set to close for repairs for more than a year. Disruptions at the affected terminals could impact roughly 85% of the cargo that moves through the Port of Long Beach and a third of the cargo at the Port of Los Angeles, according to the PMA. The adjacent ports reported record cargo volumes last month and together handle about a third of they country’s seaborne containerized goods.

The previous labor contract expired in July 2025, though the PMA, which represents port terminals and ocean carriers, and ILWU Local 26 have been meeting regularly to negotiate with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The situation escalated recently ago after the union authorized a strike.

Local 26 members provide security at six container terminals at the Southern California ports. The PMA warned on Oct. 27 that ILWU dockworkers and marine clerks — who have separate labor contracts and are not party to this dispute — were expected to stand with the Local 26 watchmen in the event of a strike.

Read more: Southern California Ports Shatter Cargo Records as Imports Surge

Port of Long Beach CEO Noel Hacegaba said he expected the elevated container volumes to continue through at least the beginning of next year. 

“We expect to be busy at least through the first month of the new year and possibly through the first quarter,” Hacegaba told Bloomberg earlier this week, adding that cargo needed to supply the AI boom is among the growth drivers.

© 2026 Bloomberg L.P.

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