Abut 200 unionized crew members who work aboard Matson's trans-Pacific cargo ships have reached a tentative contract agreement with the company.

The five-year agreement covers members of three separate unions: the Sailors Union of the Pacific; the Marine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders and Wipers Association; and Seafarers International Union – Marine Cooks, according to Matson spokesman Jeff Hull.

The agreement was reached Monday night, the day the previous contract was set to expire. Union members will hold a ratification vote over the next several weeks.

One of the unions, the Sailors Union of the Pacific, had voted on June 16 to authorize their union leadership to call a strike, a move intended to give the workers leverage in their contract negotiations with the company.

Neither Hull, nor union attorney Charles Khim would reveal specifics of the contract.

Matson is the state's largest shipping company, controlling about two-thirds of the market for ocean freight to Hawaii. About 80 percent of all goods sold in Hawai'i come via ship.

Separately, 500 members of the Inland Boatman's union that work for Young Brothers and Hawaiian Tug and Barge have ratified a three-year contract agreement, Khim said.