There is no strike at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and terminals are operating normally. The contract for terminal security workers has been extended to 5:00 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday, November 4, while talks continue. If no agreement or further extension is reached by then, operations at up to eight container terminals could be disrupted. The UFLPA Entity List update from our previous advisory remains in effect.
Strike deadline extended at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach
ILWU Local 26, which represents about 250 terminal security workers (watchmen), has authorized a strike. The original November 1 deadline passed without a walkout after the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the union agreed to extend the current contract to 5:00 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday, November 4. Negotiations are continuing with help from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. The watchmen have worked under contract extensions since their agreement expired in July 2025, and PMA says significant differences remain.
The group is small, about 2% of the ILWU workforce at the two ports, but 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 separate from the West Coast longshore contract, which runs through 2028.
| New deadline | Wednesday, November 4, 5:00 p.m. Pacific (extended from November 1) |
| Status | No strike; contract extended; strike authorized but not confirmed; talks ongoing with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service |
| Terminals named | Up to eight, including APM Terminals, Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT), Total Terminals International (TTI), SSA Terminals (Pier C-60) and Pacific Container Terminal |
| Cargo share at risk | About 85% of Long Beach cargo and about 33% of Los Angeles cargo, per the Pacific Maritime Association |
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, adding to rail congestion already affecting LA/Long Beach
- Longer drayage times once the Vincent Thomas Bridge closes for about 16 months, starting November 7
What Alba is doing
- Monitoring negotiations and terminal advisories daily, including the November 4 deadline
- 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 you do
- Tell your Alba representative which shipments are most time-sensitive so we can prioritize them before November 4.
- Pick up available import containers and return empty equipment before the deadline, where appointments allow.
- Share any inventory, production or delivery deadlines that a delay could affect.
- Consider whether upcoming bookings could move through other gateways, such as Oakland or Seattle/Tacoma, and plan for possible delays on cargo arriving at LA/Long Beach in November.
UFLPA Entity List update
As noted in our previous advisory, on October 28 the Department of Homeland Security added three companies to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List, which now includes 190 entities:
- BGI Genomics Co., Ltd.
- MGI Tech Co., Ltd.
- Shenzhen BGI Technology Co., Ltd.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection presumes that goods made by listed entities are produced with forced labor and will stop them from entering the U.S. unless the importer can rebut that presumption. If you import genomic sequencing equipment, reagents, laboratory supplies or related products, please review your supply chain for any link to these companies, including purchases made through distributors. Our compliance team is available to help.
Questions
We will send another update once an agreement is reached or if a strike begins. For questions about a specific shipment, please contact your Alba account representative or your usual Alba contact. Thank you for your continued partnership.
