Los Angeles port strike averted as employers and watchmen union extend talks to Nov. 5

Los Angeles · Economy · Oct. 30, 2026 · The Los Angeles and Long Beach seaports employer group and ILWU Local 26 agreed on Friday to extend their negotiating deadline from Nov. 1 to Nov. 5, averting a potential strike that could have snarled cargo flows at the nation’s busiest container seaport complex.

About 250 watchmen, roughly 2% of port workers

The talks cover about 250 maritime watchmen, roughly 2% of port workers. The Pacific Maritime Association said on Friday that it and the union will continue negotiations with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. An ILWU union representative did not immediately comment. The watchmen control and inspect truck and employee entries at terminal gates, provide terminal security, and guard and track critical cargo crossing the docks.

Both ports set all-time cargo records in September

Reuters reported that watchmen work at terminals handling roughly 85% of cargo at the Port of Long Beach and 33% of cargo at the Port of Los Angeles, and that both ports reported all-time cargo volume records for September. The extension keeps cargo moving in the short term under record volumes, but the new Nov. 5 deadline remains the next checkpoint.

Compiled from a Reuters report.