ALA Update: East and Gulf Coast Port Strike
On 01 October 2024, the International Longshoreman Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) could not come to terms on a new ILA Contract; therefore, the ILA acted upon a threatened labor strike, which impacted all US seaports along the Gulf Coast and East Coast; 36 U.S. ports from Oct. 1 to Oct. 3.
Fortunately, the ILA strike (ILA 1.0) lasted only a couple days, at which time both parties (ILA, USMX) agreed to extend the current ILA contract until 15 January 2025.
This will allow both parties to continue to negotiate terms on the new ILA 6-year contract.
USMX offered a 61.5% raise wage increase (over 6 years) at which the ILA has not agreed upon. Agreeing to the 61.5% raise wage increase would mean the other terms would be taken off the table.
The ILA is fighting for the overall strategy not just the wage increase. Per ILA president Harold Daggett, there will be no agreement until all are terms are met.
- No strike clause and Leverage. ILA would lose the ability to negotiate and fight for the other matters that go beyond economics.
- Automated systems Protection. This guarantees ILA members to continue to handle key tasks at the port facilities and employers from outsourcing their jobs or further automated systems, eliminating ILA jobs. ILA wanted a significant pay raise and a complete ban of automation for port work in its next contract.
- Health care and container Royalties. This has been in place but is too low due to being outdated.
- Retroactive pay. Once contract is ratified, every member receiving backpay since October 1st, 2024.
This is what the USMX has brought to the table as their negotiating offer to remove items 1-4 and receive the 61.5% raise wage increase over 6 years alone. Neither party is budging.
The potential 2.0 ILA contract extension date ends on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
On November 13, the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance resumed contract negotiations with the hope of completing a new contract before the contract extension expires on January 15. Unfortunately, the ILA has once again walked away from the bargaining table after a day and a half over the issue of automation and technology.
USMX has issued a press release today noting that they will not agree to a contract that would restrict the future use of technology. They want to focus on “continued modernization that is essential to improve worker safety, increase efficiency in a way that protects and grows jobs, keeps supply chains strong, and increases capacity that will financially benefit American businesses and workers alike.”
The ILA has not issued a press release yet. Below are a few articles of interest.
Articles of Interest
- Dockworkers’ union walks away from negotiations with East and Gulf Coast employers, Fox Business (11/13)
- U.S. port, union talks break down again over automation, with two months to go before potential strike, CNBC (11/13)
- Automation issues bring USMX-ILA negotiations to a standstill, Loadstar (11/13)
- Dockworkers Call Off Talks Again, With Automation at Issue, Transport Topics (11/13)
- ILA Breaks Off Negotiations Over Automation Issues for East Coast Ports, Maritime Executive (11/13)
- Dockworkers Dig In: ILA Breaks Off Talks with USMX, Threatening January Port Chaos, gCaptain (11/13)
