PMA Ratifies Five-Year Contract with ILWU

The members of the US Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) have voted to ratify a new five-year contract with the International Longshore & Warehouse Union.

The contract, if ratified by the ILWU, is retroactive to July 1, 2014 and runs through June 30, 2019.

“The contract features an enhanced arbitration system that is designed to support waterfront stability, capacity growth and productivity. This is especially important given the increasingly competitive environment West Coast ports face now and into the future from a variety of factors, including the long-anticipated opening of the expanded Panama Canal,” PMA said.

“Health care changes maintained in the contract will foster greater efficiency, cost containment and fraud prevention for the long-term. To date, these efficiencies have already delivered
significant savings to the health care plan,” the association added.

The new deal features wage and pension increases for ILWU members, as well as an employer-paid health care plan.

 “The disruptions that occurred during negotiations, and the inconvenience and hardship created by them, were regrettable. We look forward to building upon the incredible advantages West
Coast ports offer and winning back the trust and confidence of the shipping community. This contract provides important tools to accomplish that,” said PMA President and CEO Jim McKenna.

The outcome of the ILWU ratification vote is expected by Friday, May 22.