In an article called ‘Ports commit to strengthening harbor complex,’ the Signal Tribune writes:

Port leaders and elected officials from Long Beach and Los Angeles were cautiously optimistic last week during their visit with United States Labor Secretary Thomas E. Perez, who had returned to the state four months after helping to negotiate a five-year agreement between dock workers and shippers that had ended a months-long dispute between them.

Perez said the resolution of the ports problem in February was indeed a team effort, and he commended Pacific Maritime Association President James McKenna and International Longshore and Warehouse Union President Bob McEllrath for working together to reach the agreement earlier this year.

“I learned personally that the ripple effect from the port situation earlier this year certainly rippled across the country,” Perez said. “It went far beyond the shores of the Pacific, and what we’ve learned is that we’re all in this together. So, I’m really here today to say two things. No. 1 is ‘thank you.’ I was so excited by the overwhelming vote in the ILWU to ratify what I thought was a very fair agreement. So I want to commend the leadership and say ‘thank you.’”

Perez complimented the union leaders and port workers for their quick turnaround of goods after the agreement had been reached.

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