Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced Tuesday night that members of the ILWU bargaining team has struck a deal to put an end to the week-old strike that has crippled the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
"We've got a deal and people are going back to work," the mayor said. He added that the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach will open again Wednesday and that longshoremen will return to work.
The agreement will now go to the rank and file for their approval. One ILWU representative told reporters he's confident it will be approved.
"This was a community effort that will benefit working families for many years to come," said ILWU Local 63-OCU president John Fageaux Jr.
Federal moderators were brought in Tuesday to attempt to negotiate a deal between ILWU clerical workers and their employers.
The 450 workers have been on strike for a week. They have been picketing in front of the entrances to several terminals, prompting closures because thousands of longshoremen refuse to cross the picket lines.
