FMCS to Mediate West Coast Ports Negotiation

The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) has received a request from representatives of the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) to provide mediation services in the PMA’s continuing labor negotiations with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) for a collective bargaining agreement covering all west coast ports. 

FMCS said it has been closely monitoring these negotiations for some time in accordance with its statutory responsibilities and has stood ready to provide mediation services.  In light of PMA’s request, and consistent with the voluntary nature of the mediation process, FMCS mediators will reach out to the parties to determine whether and when mediation assistance would be most valuable.