LA and Long Beach Port Watchmen Strike: What Ecommerce Brands Should Do

Ports & Freight

11-05-2026

About 250 maritime watchmen represented by ILWU Local 26 have been in contract talks with the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), and a strike by this small group could slow or stop cargo at terminals that handle roughly 85% of Port of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Port of Los Angeles cargo. The latest extension ran until 5 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday, November 4, 2026. As of this post on November 5, none of the reports we reviewed confirmed a deal, a new extension, or a walkout, so ecommerce brands with imports landing in Southern California should plan for both outcomes now.

What Is Happening at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach?

Local 26 watchmen handle gate security and cargo watch at container terminals: they control truck and worker entry at the gates and track cargo on the docks. Their previous contract expired in July 2025, and they have worked under a series of extensions since then. Local 26 members authorized a strike ahead of a November 1 deadline. On October 30, PMA and the union signed another extension, and talks have continued with help from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

Here is the timeline based on the sources we read:

July 2025: The watchmen's previous agreement expired. Work continued under extensions.
October 23, 2026: Local 26 President Luisa Gratz said in a letter that talks had gone nowhere, according to Flexport and FreightWaves.
Before the original deadline: Local 26 members authorized a strike for November 1, according to PMA.
October 30, 2026: PMA and Local 26 signed an extension. FreightWaves, Trains and Flexport report it ran through 5 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday, November 4. Reuters described the new deadline as November 5. The sources do not explain the difference.
November 4, 2026 (morning): Flexport reported that neither side had announced a deal or another extension.

Because the situation can change hour to hour, check the latest PMA and port announcements, or ask your freight forwarder, before making shipping decisions.

Why Could 250 Workers Slow Down the Busiest US Port Complex?

Local 26 is only about 2% of the unionized workforce at the two ports. The impact comes from where they work and how other workers may respond. According to Flexport, citing PMA, the watchmen work at six of the complex's 13 container terminals. Those terminals handle about 85% of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Los Angeles cargo.

PMA has said it does not expect longshore workers and marine clerks to cross a Local 26 picket line. Other reports use softer language, saying other ILWU workers "may" honor picket lines. If they do, vessel, yard and gate work could stop at the affected terminals, and trucks could be turned away at the gates.

The larger West Coast longshore contract is not part of this dispute. It covers about 22,000 longshore workers and clerks at 29 West Coast ports and runs through 2028. Oakland, Seattle and Tacoma are not involved.

Which Terminals Are Affected?

Flexport lists these locations from the strike notice:

APM Terminals (APMT)
Long Beach Container Terminal (LBCT)
Total Terminals International (TTI)
SSA at C-60
A-90
LB 206
Pacific Container Terminal (PCT)
OH 55

Other published lists differ slightly, so confirm the exact terminal for each of your containers with your forwarder or drayage carrier.

How Busy Are the Ports Right Now?

The timing matters because the ports are already running hot. Both ports set all-time September records, handling a combined 2.04 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units), according to gCaptain. Reuters noted that the cargo included holiday retail goods.

Rail is already backed up:

Import containers waiting for trains sat on terminals an average of 7.19 days in September, up from 6.75 days in August, according to Pacific Merchant Shipping Association figures cited by Flexport.
More than 35,000 containers were waiting for trains as of October 26, according to Trains reporting cited by Fresh Fruit Portal.

Even a short work stoppage would add to these delays. Containers headed inland by rail would likely feel it most.

There is one more local factor for drayage. Flexport reports that Caltrans will close the Vincent Thomas Bridge for 16 months starting November 7, which could lengthen some truck routes around the harbor.

What Should Ecommerce Brands Do Now?

If you import inventory through Los Angeles or Long Beach, especially holiday stock, take these steps:

Check your container's terminal. Compare each booking against the strike-notice list above.
Pick up available containers fast. If a box is discharged and available, schedule drayage right away instead of letting it sit.
Ask about cargo still at sea. Find out when it is scheduled to discharge and whether it can move to a different terminal or port.
Ask about demurrage and detention. Get your ocean carrier's policy in writing in case terminals close.
Protect your best sellers. If a container may be delayed, consider pausing ads on those SKUs, turning on backorder messages, or moving inventory from another location.
Keep marketplace metrics safe. On Amazon, Walmart or TikTok Shop, update handling times or inventory counts early rather than risking late shipments or cancellations.
Tell your sales and marketing teams. Holiday promotions should match the inventory you can actually ship.

Once inventory reaches a warehouse near the ports, it can be received and shipped to customers quickly. If your products sell across several channels, see our integrations page for how orders flow into one inventory pool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a strike at the Port of Long Beach right now?

As of November 5, 2026, the reports we reviewed had not confirmed a strike, a deal or a new extension after the 5 p.m. Pacific deadline on November 4. Check PMA and port announcements for the latest status.

Who are the ILWU Local 26 watchmen?

They are about 250 workers who handle gate security and cargo watch at container terminals in Los Angeles and Long Beach. They negotiate with the Pacific Maritime Association.

Will a watchmen strike close the whole port?

No. The watchmen work at six of the 13 container terminals. Those terminals handle about 85% of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Los Angeles cargo, so a strike could still disrupt a large share of imports if other workers honor picket lines.

Does this affect the West Coast longshore contract?

No. The coastwide longshore contract for about 22,000 workers at 29 ports runs through 2028 and is separate from this dispute.

How 3PL City Helps

3PL City runs a Los Angeles warehouse in Gardena, CA, about 10 miles from the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, so containers have a short drayage trip once they are released. We offer same-day shipping on orders placed by 2 PM Pacific, 99.8% order accuracy, and a dedicated account manager who responds within 1 hour during business hours. Onboarding takes 24 hours, with no long-term contracts, no order minimums and a $0 setup fee. You also get discounted carrier rates and integrations with Shopify, Amazon, Walmart, TikTok Shop, WooCommerce, BigCommerce and more. Learn about our DTC fulfillment service, or get a fulfillment quote.