Supporting our communities and the U.S. economy since the 1930's.
More than 20,000 dedicated dockworkers move cargo every day at the 29 U.S. West Coast ports that make up our nation’s greatest economic engine. This work is difficult and dangerous, and the pandemic posed even greater challenges at the ports and throughout the supply chain.
Recognizing their vital role in ensuring that grocery stores were stocked, PPE made available, and hospitals supplied during these challenging times, dockworkers proved themselves to be the strongest link in the nation’s supply chain by moving cargo at record-breaking rates month after month – even as they and their families faced the same COVID-19 fears, infections, and losses as others.
This page pays tribute to these workers and their ongoing dedication to ensuring the success of our nation’s greatest economic engines – our West Coast ports.
Learn more on our About page and our Media FAQ, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
MOVING RECORD-BREAKING VOLUMES OF CARGO Throughout Covid-19
The pandemic brought with it a surge of cargo to the West Coast ports unlike any other time in history. Month after month, ILWU dockworkers did their part to address the backlog and keep goods flowing by shattering all-time cargo-handling records at West Coast ports by moving more than 26 million TEUs at our West Coast Ports in 2021.
THANK YOU to @LongshoreWorkers for their dedication to keeping our economy moving! You are a critical part of our supply chain & keep cargo moving to businesses & families across Washington state and the Midwest. #HeroesAtOurPorts @ILWUlongshore @portoftacoma @portofseattle pic.twitter.com/THpjltimeT
— The Northwest Seaport Alliance (@SeaportNW) October 8, 2021
We at the #PortofLA offer our gratitude to the men and women of @ILWUlongshore for your strength and unwavering dedication to keeping the U.S. economy moving throughout the pandemic. #HeroesAtOurPorts pic.twitter.com/7pe4DJqWmO
— Port of Los Angeles (@PortofLA) October 5, 2021
Heroes At Work…
Worldwide, ports were experiencing unprecedented volumes of cargo brought on by the global impact of the pandemic and soaring consumer demand. To meet this demand, U.S. West Coast dockworkers moved cargo at historic rates to help ensure that restaurants, hospitals, and other businesses have what they need to operate and keep people employed.
Below are a few facts that speak to the importance of the West Coast ports to our economy, the reopening of our nation, and our day-to-day lives:
Million Container TEUs
%
Of Our National GDP
Million American Jobs
Trillion in Domestic Business
U.S. ECONOMIC ENGINE
U.S. West Coast ports dominate the nation’s container trade:
- Moved more than 21 million total container TEUs in 2023.
- Account for 8.7% of our national GDP.
- Help sustain nearly 12 million American jobs.
- Account for $2 Trillion in domestic business.
In addition to containers, the 29 West Coast ports import and export automobiles, grain and agricultural goods, energy products, building materials, and virtually everything it takes to operate America’s schools, factories, offices, hospitals and homes.
KEY TO KEEPING OUR ECONOMY STRONG
Ports play a critical role in keeping our economy strong. Although challenges across the supply chain were brought to light during COVID -19 due to soaring consumer demand for products from abroad, West Coast ports offer the shortest distance from Asian ports to the U.S. Midwest and East Coast, with a shipping time of 11-12 days (compared to 23-27 days for the East Coast, when Panama Canal transit and additional distance are factored in).
DELIVERING WHAT WE RELY ON MOST
From hospital supplies and PPE, to food, automobiles, consumer electronics and furniture our West Coast ports deliver many of the products we all rely on every day.
