A strike by about 250 terminal security workers could disrupt operations at several container terminals at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach as early as 5:00 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, November 1. A strike has not been confirmed, and negotiations are ongoing.
Possible Strike at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 26, which represents about 250 terminal security workers (watchmen), has authorized a strike that could begin when its current contract extension expires at 5:00 p.m. Pacific on Sunday, November 1. The union’s previous agreement expired in July 2025, and it has worked under a series of extensions since. Talks with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) are continuing with federal mediators, and PMA says significant differences remain.
The group is small, about 2% of the ILWU workforce at the two ports, but its members work at terminals that handle roughly 85% of Long Beach’s cargo and about a third of Los Angeles’ cargo, according to PMA. PMA identifies six container terminals that employ Local 26 watchmen, while the union’s strike notice names eight terminal locations, including APM Terminals, Long Beach Container Terminal, Total Terminals International, SSA and Pacific Container Terminal. Other ILWU workers are not expected to cross a picket line. If a strike goes ahead, vessel, yard and gate operations could stop at the affected terminals.
This dispute is limited to Local 26. Its contract is separate from the coastwide agreement covering ILWU longshore workers and marine clerks, which runs through 2028.
What It Could Mean for Your Cargo
- Delays in vessel discharge, container availability and truck appointments at affected terminals
- Difficulty picking up import containers or returning empty equipment on time
- Demurrage, detention and per diem charges from carriers and terminals that may continue to accrue during a disruption
- Possible carrier surcharges, and a cargo backlog for a period after operations resume
- Added pressure on rail service, which is already congested: nearly 35,700 import containers were waiting for on-dock rail at the two ports as of October 26
What Alba Is Doing
- Monitoring negotiations and terminal advisories daily
- Confirming terminal status, appointments and cargo availability before dispatching trucks
- Documenting any inability to pick up or return containers, to support disputes of charges where appropriate
- Reviewing alternative routings for time-sensitive cargo where practical
- Sending updates as the situation develops
What We Recommend
- Tell your Alba representative which shipments are most time-sensitive so we can prioritize them.
- Consider whether upcoming bookings could move through other gateways, such as Oakland or Seattle/Tacoma.
- Share any inventory, production or delivery deadlines that a delay could affect.
- Plan for possible delays on cargo arriving at LA/Long Beach in the first weeks of November.
ASK Alba™ Questions about cargo moving through LA/Long Beach? Our team can help. Contact us
References
- FreightWaves, Strike threat by port security workers at Los Angeles–Long Beach: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/strike-threat-by-port-security-workers-at-los-angeles-long-beach
- gCaptain, Strike Threat Looms at Eight Los Angeles, Long Beach Port Terminals: https://gcaptain.com/strike-threat-looms-at-eight-los-angeles-long-beach-port-terminals/
- NAW, SoCal Ports Face Nov. 1 Strike Threat: https://www.naw.org/mdm/news/socal-ports-face-nov-1-strike-threat/
