PACIFIC MARITIME ASSOCIATION 25
Southern California
The busiest port complex in the Western Hemisphere smoothly processed
near-record cargo volumes in 2024, a bright spot in its ongoing competition
for national market share. Capital investments in the workforce, infrastructure,
and zero-emission technology continued to improve the San Pedro Bay ports'
competitiveness.
R E G I O N A L R E P O R T
Joined by officials from the City
and Port of Los Angeles, as
well as the Los Angeles Unified
School District (LAUSD), PMA and
ILWU representatives hosted the
grand opening of the ILWU-PMA
Maintenance and Repair Training
Center in May. Located on a four-
acre parcel adjacent to Pier 400,
the $16.4 million, 20,000 square
foot facility offers programs to
upskill current ILWU mechanics and
reskill longshore workers to become
mechanics, helping ensure that
the workforce is equipped to meet
the evolving demands of modern
terminal operations. Hands-on
instruction covers chassis, forklifts,
top handlers, crane spreaders,
training simulators, programmable
logic controllers, and other future
container-handling equipment.
PMA and the ILWU, joined by City and Port leaders, open the M&R training facility at the Port of Los Angeles.
Classes at the center began in
October, with the first program
focused on electrical upskill
training. The 10-week course,
taught in partnership with LAUSD's
Adult Education team, graduated
36 trainees in January 2025. The
program aims to train 900 ILWU
members over the next decade.
ILWU-PMA M&R Training Center Opens, Graduates First Class of Trainees
