The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) warns that a strike at all Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports is becoming more likely as the expiration of their current contract with maritime employers looms.
ILA President Harold Daggett emphasised that employers represented by the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are running out of time to negotiate a new master contract, with the current agreement set to expire on September 30, 2024.
Daggett highlighted ongoing violations of the current contract by USMX members, particularly citing the use of an Auto Gate system by APM Terminals and Maersk Line at the Port of Mobile, Alabama, which processes trucks autonomously without ILA labor. This issue prompted the ILA to cancel master contract talks in early June and insist that negotiations would not resume until the Auto Gate matter is resolved.
The ILA has also been waiting for an audit report on jobs created by new technology, which has yet to be delivered. Concerns have risen over the increasing presence of IT personnel on marine terminals, particularly from APM and Maersk’s IT departments in Charlotte, North Carolina, which the union believes is encroaching on their jurisdiction.
Daggett reaffirmed the union’s stance against extending the current contract or involving outside agencies, including the Biden Administration and the Department of Labor, in the negotiations. He stated that the ILA’s 45,000 members are fully supportive of potential strike action if their demands are not met by October 1, 2024.
Despite these challenges, the USMX expressed optimism about moving forward with productive negotiations to finalise a new contract before the deadline. The ILA’s unwavering stance and the unresolved disputes underline the urgency and complexity of the current labor negotiations.
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