Shipping Line, Unions Reach Labor Accord

American President Lines said it has reached an accord with three of its maritime labor unions, averting a threatened strike. The unions--the Maritime Firemen’s Union, the Seafarers International Union and the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific--said they would walk off their jobs unless the Oakland-based ocean carrier agreed to keep most of its fleet flying the U.S. flag. The shipping line is a division of APL Ltd. Union officials weren’t immediately available for comment.