A port watchmen strike at Los Angeles and Long Beach moved a step further away on Friday, but it has not gone away. The union and the employers’ group agreed to extend talks, so the new strike deadline is 5 p.m. Pacific time on Wednesday, Nov. 4, according to gCaptain. As of Nov. 1, 2026, no strike has started.
Who could join a port watchmen strike
ILWU Local 26 represents about 250 watchmen who provide security at shipping terminals. The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), which speaks for terminal operators, says these workers are about 2% of the ILWU workforce at the two ports. However, they work at terminals that handle roughly 85% of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Los Angeles cargo.
The union’s strike notice names eight locations, including APM Terminals, Long Beach Container Terminal and Pacific Container Terminal. PMA counts six container terminals with Local 26 watchmen on staff.
Why a small group can affect so much cargo
PMA says other ILWU members are unlikely to cross a Local 26 picket line. If that happens, vessel, yard and gate work could stop at the affected terminals. That is why the dispute matters far beyond 250 jobs.
The watchmen’s contract is separate from the coastwide longshore agreement, which runs through 2028. The watchmen’s previous contract expired in July 2025, and they have worked under short extensions since then. Federal mediators are now helping both sides, as FreightWaves reports.
What each side says
PMA says it put wage increases and pension improvements on the table. It also says significant differences remain after more than a year of bargaining. The association says full-time watchmen average more than $170,000 a year, with employer-paid health care and pension.
Local 26 says employers have not made meaningful progress. In an Oct. 23 letter, union president Luisa Gratz asked other maritime unions for solidarity.
The ports are not parties to the talks. The Port of Long Beach CEO, Noel Hacegaba, said the port is committed to moving cargo safely and reliably, and the Harbor Patrol and Long Beach police keep patrolling the port complex, according to the Long Beach Post.
What it means for residents
A strike would not close the ports outright, and nothing is confirmed. Still, the two ports handle about 31% of the nation’s containerized cargo, so a stoppage at these terminals could slow shipments of goods and add to the container backlog already waiting for inland rail. Trucking firms, warehouses and retailers would feel it first.
Watch for three things before Wednesday: a tentative deal, another extension, or a strike notice at 5 p.m. For background on the harbor, see our report on the Port of Los Angeles emissions per container, and browse more in our money and business hub.
Sources
- gcaptain.com/strike-threat-at-los-angeles-long-beach-ports-delayed-as-union-and-employers-extend-talks
- freightwaves.com/strike-threat-port-security-workers-los-angeles-long-beach
- lbpost.com/news/business/trade-transportation/strike-port-security-la-long-beach-cargo-halt
- gcaptain.com/strike-threat-looms-at-eight-los-angeles-long-beach-port-terminals