Catherwood LibraryILR School

One month after contract talks began, and with only five days left before existing contracts expire, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union and West Coast shipping companies are no closer to a settlement than when they started. The two sides have not reached agreement on any of the major issues, and have yet to begin talks on the implementation of new technology and layoffs---the issues viewed as the most likely to deadlock the negotiations. As the two sides broke their month-old agreement to keep the negotiations process confidential earlier this week, accusing each other of having violated the pact first, retailers increased their stockpiling efforts in preparation for a potential strike during the back-to-school and holiday seasons.