A federal mediator will try and help resolve the on-going labor issue between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the Pacific Maritime Association. The union and ports have been in contract negotiations for eight months and have not been able to reach an agreement on a new contract.

The Agriculture Transportation Coalition says, “This is an essential step, as the injury caused by port labor slowdowns, walk-offs and disruption has rendered West Coast ports dysfunctional.” The port disruption over the past six months has caused agriculture and retailers lost sales and lost customers.