Second extension pushes LA-Long Beach strike deadline to midnight

A second extension runs to midnight Pacific time on Friday, 6 November, as the bridge that carries trucks between San Pedro and Terminal Island shuts for 16 months.

By Procupy News DeskPublished 7 Nov 2026, 8:49 AM IST2 min readSource: gCaptain

In 60 words

The Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26 have extended their contract a second time, to midnight Pacific time on Friday, 6 November. About 250 watchmen at Los Angeles and Long Beach can strike when it ends. Their terminals handle about 85% of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Los Angeles cargo, and other dockworkers are expected to honour picket lines.

Key points

The PMA and ILWU Local 26 agreed a second extension, to midnight Pacific time on Friday, 6 November^1, 2.
The union's strike notice named eight terminal locations, including APM Terminals, LBCT, TTI and Pacific Container Terminal³.
The deadline falls as the Vincent Thomas Bridge closes for 16 months, shifting trucks onto I-710, I-110 and other detours⁴.
The coastwide ILWU contract covering about 22,000 workers runs through 2028 and is separate from this dispute².

The Pacific Maritime Association and ILWU Local 26 have pushed their strike deadline back a second time, to midnight Pacific time on Friday, 6 November. About 250 watchmen at Los Angeles and Long Beach can walk out when it ends^1, 2.

The deadline has moved twice this week. A 1 November walkout was first postponed to 5pm on 4 November, then to Friday midnight after talks ran late into Wednesday evening without a deal^5, 6. The PMA said bargaining would continue on Friday with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service⁷.

What a walkout would touch

Local 26 represents about 2% of the ILWU workforce at the ports. The PMA says its members work at terminals handling about 85% of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Los Angeles cargo¹.

The union's strike notice named eight terminal locations: APM Terminals, Long Beach Container Terminal, Total Terminals International, SSA at C-60, A-90 and LB 206, Pacific Container Terminal and OH 55³. The PMA listed six container terminals³.

The PMA expects other ILWU members to honour picket lines. Vessel, yard and gate work could stop at those terminals, not just security cover^1, 2.

Trucks face a second change

The deadline falls as the Vincent Thomas Bridge begins 16 months of rehabilitation. The bridge carries State Route 47 and about 53,000 vehicles a day, nearly 9% of them heavy trucks⁴.

Caltrans will detour traffic mainly onto Interstates 710 and 110, State Route 103 and Harry Bridges Boulevard⁴. Long Beach terminals have added evening and Saturday gate hours for six weeks, excluding Thanksgiving week⁴.

Cargo is already tight

Rail dwell averaged 7.19 days in September, and about 35,688 containers were waiting for rail service in late October^4, 8. Long Beach handled a record 997,177 TEU in September, and Los Angeles handled 1,042,652 TEU, its busiest month^9, 4.

Port of Long Beach chief executive Noel Hacegaba said port-wide security from the Harbor Patrol and city police continues uninterrupted during negotiations⁹.

AIT Worldwide Logistics said shippers are weighing alternative gateways and air options, but there is "no significant shift so far in routing"¹⁰. Dimerco advises collecting and delivering containers quickly where possible, and does not recommend alternative routings yet¹⁰.

Behind the dispute

The previous agreement expired in July 2025¹. The PMA says full-time watchmen average more than $170,000 a year, with employer-paid healthcare and pension benefits, and that significant differences remain¹¹. Local 26 has not detailed its outstanding demands³.

The dispute is separate from the coastwide ILWU contract covering about 22,000 longshore workers and marine clerks at 29 ports, which runs through 2028².

What it means for procurement buyers

Importers using Los Angeles and Long Beach face two constraints at once. The terminals named in the union's notice handle about 85% of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Los Angeles cargo, and a stoppage would hit vessel, yard and gate work rather than security posts alone^1, 3.

Cost exposure sits in demurrage, per-diem and drayage, not just the ocean rate. Rail dwell averaged 7.19 days in September and about 35,688 containers were waiting for rail service in late October, so some boxes are already past free time^4, 8. From 7 November, bridge detours and extra gate hours will change truck routing and appointment timing⁴.

Check contracts before Monday. Confirm who pays demurrage and detention under your Incoterms, whether a labour disruption counts as force majeure or triggers a port disruption clause, and whether your drayage provider can re-rate or rebook appointments⁴.

Ask forwarders for a written contingency plan, pre-clear rail billing so boxes move as soon as gates reopen, and keep a backup gateway option priced. AIT said shippers are evaluating alternative gateways and air options, but routing has not shifted broadly¹⁰. West coast rates are near $8,300 per FEU, and carriers are seeking $2,000 to $3,000 more for November¹².

Sources

1.Hellenic Shipping News, Watchmen, ports of LA/LB avoid strike, extend contract through end of week, 6 November 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
2.FreightWaves, Port strike delayed again at Los Angeles, Long Beach ports, 5 November 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
3.gCaptain, Strike Threat Looms at Eight Los Angeles, Long Beach Port Terminals, 27 October 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
4.Hellenic Shipping News, Bridge closure, strong import volumes cause delays for containers at port of LA/LB, 31 October 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
5.FreightWaves, Strike at busiest US port just days away as talks continue, 2 November 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
6.Journal of Commerce, Strike deadline at LA-LB ports delayed again through midnight Friday, 5 November 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
7.Transport Topics, Strike deadline pushed to Nov. 6 at Port of Los Angeles, 5 November 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
8.The Loadstar, 250 watchmen, one picket line and half of America’s busiest port complex, 30 October 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
9.The Loadstar, Port of Long Beach set to handle record 10m teu this year, 5 November 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
10.The Loadstar, Fears a strike at San Pedro Bay ports could worsen congestion, 3 November 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
11.FreightWaves, Strike threat by port security workers at Los Angeles-Long Beach, 28 October 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.
12.FreightWaves, Asia-US container rates hold as carriers seek $3,000 November rate hikes, 4 November 2026. Accessed 7 November 2026.

How this story was made: the Procupy News Desk researched and wrote it with AI tools, working only from the sources listed above. Automated checks confirmed that every number and quote appears in those sources, and a separate AI fact-check compared the story with them before publication. Read our editorial policy. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.