Port deal cheers those who fill C.O. shelves

A West Coast labor dispute that had led to weeks of slowdowns appears to be at an end.

The dispute at West Coast ports from San Diego to Seattle caused big problems for International trade.

After nine months, negotiators reached a tentative contract on Friday.

Newport Avenue Market in Bend is running low on items like Asian sauces, Italian pastas and British tea.

“We’ve actually had to pull some tags because we knew it was going to be months before we could get it the store,” store Manager Wade Combs said Monday.

About 13,000 members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union must vote to approve the new five-year contract. If union workers approve, it could be an end to the labor dispute that crippled International trade at ports whose goods make it all the way to Central Oregon shelves.