Both sides agree to federal mediation in Los Angeles and Long Beach port strikes. More info:

Both sides in the strike that has crippled the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have agreed to federal mediation, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Tuesday at a news conference.

Villaraigosa said the agreement was an encouraging sign and could help bring an end to the strike, now in its eighth day. He said the parties negotiated throughout the night and there had been some recent movement.

“I’m hopeful that the mediator will be here today,” Villaraigosa told reporters. “We’ve got to get a deal and get a deal as soon as possible.”

Approximately 20,000 workers in the region have been affected by the strike, which is now on its seventh day, and the work stoppage has shuttered 10 of the 14 available cargo container terminals at ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach. Union members claim that the 14 employers being picketed have been slowly but steadily outsourcing jobs to states and countries with lower-paid, non-union workers. The terminal owners deny the claims, saying they’ve guaranteed the union members full job security in addition to wage and pension boosts. source