West Coast dockworkers are likely to approve the new contract after a committee that represented them unanimously approved the terms of the deal, U.S. Labor Secretary Thomas Perez said on "Squawk Box."  "I think that's a good start and I have all the confidence in the world that when the rank and file take a look at this they will see that this is a good package for them and that they should move forward," he said.  The agreement was reached three days after Perez arrived in San Francisco to broker a deal with the help of a federal mediator who had joined the talks six weeks earlier.  Slangerup said he was grateful to Perez, whose involvement made the difference in reaching an accord. He added that the deal should head off the chance of disruptive disputes arising in the near future.  Read MoreWest Coast ports situation hurts retailers the most  "It's a five-year agreement so it gives us some stability," he said. "Also, the fact of the matter is there were a number of issues addressed in this contract that won't be issues next time, so I'm hoping that we have some good solid progress and labor peace for the foreseeable future."  Talks had stalled over demands that the union be allowed to fire arbitrators in workplace grievance proceedings. The new deal lays out a process in which a panel will hear disputes, rather than single arbitrators.  The 20,000 dockworkers covered by the tentative five-year labor accord have been without a contract since July. The deal reached on Friday must go before union members for ratification. The vote will most likely take place in April.  The International Longshore and Warehouse Union and the shippers' bargaining agent, the Pacific Maritime Association, agreed to fully restore all port operations by Saturday evening.  —Reuters and CNBC's Katie Cramer contributed to this report.
Congestion at 29 ports following a months-long labor dispute has reached "epic proportions," the Port of Long Beach CEO tells CNBC.