OAKLAND, Calif. (CN) - Longshoremen and terminal operators at 29 West Coast ports settled their dispute Friday after a 9-month impasse that had left thousands of tons of cargo backed up at sea and on land.
The Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union have been at a standoff since June 30, 2014, when the union's contract expired.
On Friday, they announced a tentative agreement on a new 5-year contract covering workers at all 29 ports.
The union said deal was reached with the help of Labor Secretary Thomas Perez and Scot Beckenbaugh, deputy director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
Neither side has released details on the agreement yet, which must be ratified by both parties.
That could take several months, union communications director Craig Merrilees said.
The first step will be a caucus meeting of 90 elected delegates covering all 29 ports, who will review the agreement and decide whether to recommend it to the union's membership.
If they do so, Merrilees said, the text of the agreement will be provided to every member. After local union meetings, members will vote by secret ballot.
During the ratification process, work will continue as normal at all ports, he said.
The Pacific Maritime Association could not be reached for comment.
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