The ships, and barges that have filled up moorage sites around Puget Sound and Elliott Bay may soon be cleared if the longshoreman's union approves a tentative agreement reached late on Feb. 20.
The nine month labor dispute that has slowed down and sometimes idled 29 west coast ports has ended with a tentative agreement made under the threat that if an agreement were not reached today the federal government would force arbitration at the national level.
Thomas Perez labor secretary, told both sides that the agreement had to be made today or it would have to go to Washington D.C.
The agreement reached is tentative however and still must be voted on by the 13000 member longshoreman's union.
A vote is expected in April.
“After more than nine months of negotiations, we are pleased to have reached an agreement that is good for workers and for the industry,” said PMA President James McKenna and ILWU President Bob McEllrath in a joint statement. “We are also pleased that our ports can now resume full operations.”
The first night shift in months is scheduled for tonight at 6 with 9 working gangs.
