LOS ANGELES — A day after returning to the bargaining table, labor talks continued yesterday between negotiators for hundreds of marine terminal clerical workers and their employers at the nation's largest port complex.

Negotiations were still taking place as of late yesterday afternoon, said Bill Orton of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.

Orton said he did not know whether any progress had been made.

The Office Clerical Unit, Local 63, counts about 750 workers at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach among its members.

The unit voted unanimously on Friday to authorize their leadership to order a strike if a new three-year contract was not crafted before the old one expired at midnight Saturday.

Talks resumed Sunday afternoon and continued into the night after breaking off without much progress in the early morning hours.

If the workers were to strike, the move could have a serious impact on the twin ports because longshore workers have pledged to honor picket lines.

Calls to the president of Local 63 and to the terminal operators' lead negotiator were not immediately returned yesterday.