Dockworkers’ union reps urge OK of pact

A tentative contract agreement that restored the flow of international trade through West Coast seaports earlier this year took a big step closer Friday to becoming official, as representatives of the dockworkers’ union overwhelmingly recommended rank-and-file members approve the deal.

Difficult contract negotiations nearly closed 29 seaports from San Diego to Seattle, causing major delays in the delivery of billions of dollars of imports and exports.

Negotiators for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union reached the tentative, five-year deal in February with companies that run the ships and sprawling marine terminals that are integral to trans-Pacific trade.

This week, a caucus of 90 union delegates met in San Francisco to study the offer. On Friday, 78 percent of them voted to urge the membership to approve the contract, the union said. Votes, cast by mail, will be tallied May 22.