This will be the first major strike in four and half decades in the US ports, as the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) that represents the employers, fail to reach a consensus on port automation. ILA, which represents the dockworkers at US East and Gulf Coast ports continues to emphasize it will not extend past the September 30 expiration of the current six-year contract.
By law, the union is required to provide a 60-day notice to the employers. The ILA had sent letters to all the employer groups indicating the current agreement “would not be extended.” The union also reports its Wage Scale Committee will be meeting on September 4 and 5 to review demands the ILA will make to the USMX when the negotiations finally begin for the master contract. Leadership will present for review the financial contract demands. The ILA is seeking wage increases exceeding the 32 percent granted to the West Coast dockworkers to end their July 2023 work slowdown and more than a year of contract negotiations. The East Coast union has repeatedly said the new agreement has to reflect inflation and reward the workers for their efforts to keep the supply chain moving during the pandemic. A strike would impact six of the 10 busiest US ports.
