US Dockworker Talks Show Rare Signs of Turning Sour

A new spat in the months-long contract negotiation for US West Coast dockworkers comes at a critical time: Importers and retailers are negotiating service contracts with ocean carriers for the coming year, deciding not only how much cargo they’ll need to move on ships, but also which ports to route it through.

The first public sign that West Coast port labor talks aren’t going well came early Monday when the Pacific Maritime Association, representing carriers and terminal operators, alleged that dockworkers are failing to stagger lunch breaks, causing delays for truckers at terminal gates.