PMA and ILWU Update on Contract Talks: Tentative Agreement Reached on Health Benefits

Negotiations Continue on Other Issues

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (August 26, 2014) – The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) announced today that they have reached a tentative agreement on terms for health benefits, subject to agreement on the other issues in the negotiations. The parties have agreed not to discuss the terms of this tentative agreement as negotiations continue.

Maintenance of health benefits (MOB) is an important part of the contract being negotiated between employers represented by the PMA and workers represented by the ILWU.

The contract being negotiated covers nearly 20,000 longshore workers at 29 West Coast ports. The previous agreement expired at 5 p.m. on July 1, 2014. Talks began on May 12 and are continuing.

Contacts: Wade Gates, PMA, (415) 591-4080, pmanews@bm.com Craig Merrilees, ILWU, (415) 775-0533, ext. 113 (o), (510) 774-5325 (c)