Negotiations for a new West Coast waterfront (contract) continued on Wednesday, although neither the International Longshore and Warehouse Union nor the Pacific Maritime Association anticipate a quick settlement.

Both parties agreed to take the long July 4 weekend off and to return to the bargaining table on July 8. The PMA and ILWU also agreed to extend the old contract through Monday. That contract expired on July 1.

Labor and management this week exchanged revised proposals on issues such as greater flexibility for employers to implement new technology, as well as maintenance of benefits and increases in wages and pension benefits for longshoremen. Each side rejected the other's proposal.

However, by agreeing to extend the former contract, the union signaled its intention to continue working vessels without slowdowns or work stoppages. The extension keeps in effect the no-strike clause of the old contract.

Cargo operations at West Coast ports were described as normal for the first week of July. This is usually a slow week as experienced longshoremen take off work for July 4, which is a paid holiday, as well as July 5 celebration of Bloody Thursday, which honors the memory of workers killed in the 1934 general strike and the founding of the ILWU.

By Bill Mongelluzzo