Trucking News · California · November 6, 2026

Los Angeles and Long Beach Watchmen Strike Deadline Pushed to Midnight Pacific Nov. 6 as Federal Mediation Continues

By Big Rig Daily Staff

The Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 26 have agreed to extend their contract through midnight Pacific Time on Friday night, Nov. 6, 2026, according to a PMA statement dated Nov. 4 and reported by FreightWaves. Negotiations were set to continue Friday with help from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

What the extension says

PMA's Nov. 4 statement says:

• The contract extension runs through midnight Pacific Time on Friday night, Nov. 6.
• Talks continue Friday with federal mediators.
• Local 26 represents about 250 watchmen, roughly 2% of the ILWU workforce at the ports.
• A strike by that group would put at risk operations at terminals that handle more than half of the ports' cargo, including roughly 85% at Long Beach and 33% at Los Angeles.

FreightWaves notes that an earlier agreement had pushed a potential walkout from Nov. 1 to 5 p.m. Pacific on Wednesday before this later midnight Friday extension.

Why port truckers are watching

PMA has warned that other ILWU members, including longshore workers and marine clerks on separate contracts, are expected to honor Local 26 picket lines. FreightWaves reports that could interrupt vessel loading and unloading, container-yard activity and truck-gate operations at affected terminals.

These talks are separate from the broader West Coast longshore agreement that runs through 2028. The watchmen's prior agreement expired in July 2025, and members have been working under extensions for more than a year. Local 26 members have authorized a strike.

Big Rig Daily covered earlier deadlines at Nov. 1 and the push to Nov. 4. This story is the next public extension.

Timing note for readers

Midnight Pacific on Friday, Nov. 6, is 1:00 a.m. Mountain Standard Time on Saturday, Nov. 7. As of the PMA statement dated Nov. 4, and as rechecked on the PMA page for this draft, the midnight Friday extension was still the last public word. The situation can change the same day.

Quick facts

• Deadline in the PMA statement: midnight Pacific, Friday, Nov. 6, 2026.
• Local 26: about 250 watchmen.
• Cargo exposure cited by PMA: more than half of the ports' cargo, including about 85% at Long Beach and 33% at Los Angeles.
• Broader longshore deal: still in effect through 2028.

FAQ

Is the LA/Long Beach watchmen strike underway?

Not in the sources reviewed for this draft. The latest public word is another contract extension through midnight Pacific on Nov. 6.

Would only LA/Long Beach watchmen stop working in a strike?

PMA has warned that other ILWU crafts are expected to honor picket lines, which could stop vessel, yard and gate work at affected terminals.

Is the LA/Long Beach watchmen fight the same as the West Coast longshore contract?

No. FreightWaves and PMA describe these talks as separate from the broader longshore agreement through 2028.

A question for readers

Port truckers, are you changing Friday or weekend plans around the Los Angeles and Long Beach watchmen deadline?

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