It is being reported that the
International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime
Association (PMA), the two parties in the labor contract for the West Coast
ports, will discuss the “concept” of a contract extension during
talks schedule for early November.

The current waterfront contract
is set to expire on July 1, 2019.

The exploratory talks will focus
on the issues that would be addressed if the two sides agree to move into
formal contract extension negotiations.

The parties on the East Coast,
the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime
Alliance (USMA) are also said to explore extension talks for their contract
that is set to expire on Sept. 1, 2018.