Several news reporters in California are claiming that the West Coast ports labor dispute revolves around one remaining issue and may be close to being settled.

According to anonymous reports, the last negotiating hurdle remaining has to do with the use of arbitrators to settle ongoing disputes while a contract is in force. In the past, the contract between the 29 West Coast ports, represented by the Pacific Maritime Association, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, has allowed for the use of arbitrators to rule on actions such as perceived work slowdowns. The ILWU is reportedly upset with the rulings of one particular arbitrator who has ruled against them many times. They are attempting to change the current arbitration system.

Though there is currently a news blackout surrounding the negotiations, on Feb. 9, the Pacific Maritime Association did issue a press release discussing the arbitration issue. The press release noted that the ILWU wants to be able to fire any arbitrator who rules against the union. Pacific Maritime Association said this provision would give the ILWU veto power over arbitrators’ rights to prevent union slowdowns, and in so doing would threaten the consistent and reliable movement of cargo through West Coast ports.

“The ILWU is essentially seeking the right to fire judges who rule against them,” Pacific Maritime Association spokesman Wade Gates said in the press release. “The waterfront arbitration system is an essential check-and-balance against illegal labor actions. It would be reckless to allow a single party to change the rules as the union desires.”

In the same press release, the association said that the ILWU was found guilty of more than 200 slowdowns or work stoppages during the 2008–14 contract period.

A Los Angeles Times reporter wrote in a story published today that three anonymous sources confirmed that the arbitrator issue is the stumbling block. ILWU is insisting on a change to the system and the association is resisting it. The same report appeared on several San Francisco area radio stations. Neither Pacific Maritime Association nor ILWU representatives were quoted in those stories as they cited the imposed news blackout.

The negotiations this week continued with the help of U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, who stepped in at the request of President Obama. Perez has been at least an observer in the negotiations and did say that he believed a settlement was near.

This comes after a contentious week involving actions from both sides. Over the holiday weekend, Feb. 12-16, Pacific Maritime Association closed the ports on four of five days to avoid paying hefty holiday pay. The port association said the continued work slowdown were in effect a “strike with pay” and the ports determined they would not potentially pay increased holiday rates for less work.

Port activity resumed at all 29 ports on Tuesday, Feb. 17, but no ILWU workers showed up at the port of Oakland for work on Thursday, Feb. 19. ILWU officials said there was no work slowdown but instead a scheduled union meeting that resulted in the lack of work activity.

The 29 ports on the West Coast handle about $1 trillion worth of goods annually. Several importers and exporters, including the California citrus industry, have blamed the port dispute for lost sales. California Citrus Mutual said fruit has rotted on the docks, and shippers have lost potential sales to foreign customers during the height of the California Navel orange season.