LONG BEACH, Calif. — Clerical workers and shipping companies at the nation's largest port complex resumed contract talks yesterday, with negotiators looking to resolve several key issues and end the prospect of a costly strike.

"Just a handful of issues are still left on the table," said John Fageaux Jr., head of Local 63 of the Office Clerical Unit of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

The 15,000-member ILWU has indicated that longshore workers would honor picket lines if the 750 clerks strike.

That would effectively shut down loading and unloading operations at the neighboring ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The complex accounts for 40 percent of all the cargo container traffic coming into the United States.

A strike could potentially disrupt the flow of goods to Hawai'i, which relies heavily on shipments from the two ports. Matson Navigation Co., Hawai'i's largest cargo shipper, is one of the companies that uses the port. A Matson spokes-man said he couldn't comment on any possible contingency plans being made by the company because of the sensitive nature of the talks.

The issues yet to be resolved involve wages, job security and pension benefits, Fageaux said. He was hopeful progress could be made.

Steve Berry, lead negotiator for the 14 marine terminal operators and other employers, said negotiators spent much of the day discussing issues specific to each company and its workers.

In addition, the employers were preparing a response to the union's latest offer, he said.

"We're making progress," Berry said. "We're not there yet. We're moving forward, not backward."

The clerks union had warned that a strike would occur if no deal was reached by 12:01 a.m. Monday, but negotiations continued after the deadline. The union gave employers the counterproposal before talks recessed late Monday.

A work stoppage could create ripple effects throughout many industries that depend on timely movement of cargo. It also would come as the ports enter their busy pre-holiday season, when shippers depend on the facilities to handle imports.

The clerks work at marine terminals and handle bookings for the export of cargo and other transport documents.

The talks began in May and continued after the current contract expired on June 30.