Workers at grain terminals in the Northwest are considering a final contract offer. If the two sides cannot agree, workers could strike, affecting a large amount of grain exports to Asia. The two sides have been negotiating with the help of a federal mediator, and the union said that the differences revolve around work rules, rather than pay or benefits. The union also said that they did not want to strike, and would prefer to continue negotiating with the owners beyond the deadline for the contract offer.
See "Longshore workers say they don't want to strike", Jeff Barnard, The Seattle Times, November 26, 2012