LA and Long Beach Port Strike Watch: What Importers Should Know (November 2026)

Updated 4 November 2026. About 250 security watchmen at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach could walk off the job at 5 pm Pacific time on Wednesday, 4 November, if their union and the employers do not agree a contract. They are a small group, but they work at terminals that handle about 85% of Long Beach cargo and a third of Los Angeles cargo. Other dockworkers are expected to respect a picket line. If you have bags, film or anything else arriving in Southern California this month, here is what is happening and what you can do.

The dispute in brief

The watchmen’s contract is separate from the coastwide longshore agreement, which runs to 2028. This is not a repeat of the 2002 or 2014–15 West Coast shutdowns. But a picket line at a terminal can stop ships, yards and gates there even if most of the workforce is not on strike.

Why it matters now

The two ports moved a record 2.04 million TEU in September, and there is already a backlog of containers waiting for inland rail. Holiday stock is still moving east. Even a stoppage of a day or two would add to dwell times, and terminals that have been closed usually take several days to clear the queue once they reopen.

What importers of bags and film can do

• Know where your containers are. Ask your forwarder which terminal each container is booked to. If it is one of the affected terminals, you want to know before the vessel arrives, not after.
• Talk to your broker about free time. If terminals stop, demurrage and detention can build quickly. Ask your carrier now how they will handle free time during a labour stoppage.
• Consider another gateway for the next bookings. For cargo not yet loaded in Vietnam, Oakland, Seattle/Tacoma or an East Coast port are options. East Coast freight is higher (see our freight update), so weigh that against a delay.
• Keep a few weeks of buffer stock on fast items such as T-shirt bags, trash bags and stretch film, especially with Lunar New Year in early February 2027.
• Don’t panic-book. The deadline has already been extended once and both sides are still at the table with mediators. Have a plan B ready, but there is no need to reroute everything yet.

If you have an open order with us

If you want to change the port of discharge on an order that has not loaded yet, tell us as early as you can. The booking, bill of lading and documents all follow that choice, and it is much easier to change before the container is gated in.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a port strike at Los Angeles and Long Beach?

As of 4 November 2026 no strike had started. ILWU Local 26 watchmen extended their contract to 5 pm Pacific time on 4 November while talks continued with federal mediators. Check the latest news before acting on this page.

How many terminals would a watchmen strike affect?

The union named eight terminal locations. Local 26 members work at terminals handling about 85% of Long Beach cargo and 33% of Los Angeles cargo, according to the employers’ association.

Will my container from Vietnam be delayed?

Only if it is discharged at an affected terminal while a stoppage lasts. Ask your forwarder for the terminal name. Cargo already at sea cannot easily change port, but bookings not yet loaded can.

We will update this page when there is news. Questions about an order? Contact us or WhatsApp +84 898 545 893.

Sources: gCaptain, 30 Oct 2026; FreightWaves, 28–29 Oct 2026; Freightos update, 28 Oct 2026.