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West Coast Dockworkers Ratify 3-Year Contract Extension
August 8,
2017 by Larry Thomas in Business Strategy, Industry 
West Coast dockworkers have ratified a three-year extension of their labor contract, bringing the prospect of uninterrupted work at West Coast ports until at least 2022.
According to the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents about 20,000 dockworkers at 29 West Coast ports, 67% of its members voted in favor of the extension.
The current agreement was set to expire July 1, 2019, but the extension pushes the expiration date to July 1, 2022.
The union said the contract extension raises wages, maintains health benefits and increases pensions from 2019 through 2022.
“The rank-and-file membership has made their decision and expressed a clear choice,” ILWU International President Robert McEllrath said in a statement announcing the voting results. “During the past year we saw a healthy debate and heard different points of view, with concerns raised by all sides. The democratic process allowed us to make a difficult decision and arrive at the best choice under the circumstances.”