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Costa Statement on PMA and ILWU Tentative Agreement

February 23, 2015

Washington, D.C. –U.S. Congressman Jim Costa released the following statement after the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) announced a tentative agreement on a new five-year contract covering workers at all 29 West Coast ports.

"The agreement reached by the PMA and ILWU, with the assistance of U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, is an important success for our nation and our Valley. Our ports, which are now fully operational, must focus on quickly eliminating any backlog so that our agricultural and West Coast economies can begin to recover.

"As a leading exporter of agricultural goods, news of this agreement was especially welcomed in the San Joaquin Valley. Our businesses, farmers, farmworkers, and manufacturers, all of which were losing millions of dollars in spoiled products and downsizing their workforce, can finally operate with the certainty that further delays are not on the horizon.

"The San Joaquin Valley is an integral part of California's economy and I was proud to lead my colleagues in the House of Representatives in working to bring a swift end the dispute between the PMA and ILWU. I believe I reflect the sentiment of our Valley that this had gone on far too long."

Rep. Costa has been leading the charge in urging the PMA and ILWU to swiftly end their dispute. He not only introduced a House Resolution demanding a timely solution to the labor talks, but was joined by more than 80 Members of Congress in sending a letter to the PMA and ILWU calling upon them to put aside their differences and quickly resolve the contract negotiation.