The Pacific Maritime Association and International Longshore and Warehouse Union were at the negotiating table this week, but there were dampening expectations that an agreement on a new contract for West Coast dockworkers is imminent.   Meanwhile, there is deep concern that the negotiations may now slip into 2015 with the Christmas and New Year’s holidays quickly approaching.

“Statements and rumors that our negotiations are ‘close’ to a final contract are not true. Even after seven months of negotiations, we remain far apart on several issues, and the union slowdowns continue to disrupt the movement of cargo through the ports,” said Wade Gates, a spokesman for the PMA.  “Business is being lost, and we are concerned that the damage is permanent, and shippers will be fearful to put their trust in the West Coast ports going forward,” he added.

Craig Merrilees, a spokesman for the ILWU, said, “It’s fine to clarify that rumors of an imminent settlement may not be at hand.”    But he said “the fact remains that progress is being made and the talks are moving forward.”

The PMA and ILWU made their statements as the American Association of Port Authorities sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to “take the necessary steps to assign federal mediators to help resolve the ongoing contract negotiations.”    Kurt Nagle, AAPA president and chief executive officer, said, “America’s seaports are absolutely vital to our economy, jobs and international competitiveness. At this tender stage of the economic recovery, our nation simply cannot afford disruptions, let alone a shutdown, of any part of the ports system. After seven months of labor negotiations without an agreement being reached, we believe that federal mediation is now necessary to prevent the significant economic repercussions that can occur whenever there is uncertainty and unpredictability in the movement of international commerce through our ports.”

Previous calls for federal mediation have come from the National Association of Manufacturers, the National Retail Federation, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and others.