LOS ANGELES, (Reuters) – The West Coast union that represents some 22,000 port workers will meet with employers for the first time in new contract negotiations on Tuesday according to a press release by International Longshore and Warehouse Union Dispatcher newspaper.

On July 1, the current contract between ILWU, Pacific Maritime Association (PMA), employer group ends. It covers 29 ports in California and Oregon as well as Washington. Majority of the workers live at Los Angeles/Long Beach’s busiest U.S. maritime port, clearing out backups in case there is a pandemic-related increase in imports.