The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has suspended talks with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on a new master contract over port automation issues. The move raises the possibility of renewed strikes by 45,000 dock workers in U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports from Maine to Texas in January. Neither side has indicated when negotiations could resume.
For months, ILA President Harold Daggett has been telling union members to prepare for coast-wide strikes.
The impasse follows the tentative agreement reached in early October that ended a three-day work stoppage – the first such job action in five decades. That provisional agreement included a big wage increase of 62% over six years and extension of the current master contract until January 15, 2025.
The ILA indicated Wednesday that the breakdown in negotiations occurred when USMX proposed the introduction of semi-automated equipment at ILA ports, a move strongly opposed by the union as a direct threat to job security.
“While we had positive progress on a number of issues, we were unable to make significant progress on our discussions that focused on a range of technology issues. Unfortunately, the ILA is insisting on an agreement that would move our industry backward by restricting future use of technology that has existed in some of our ports for nearly two decades making it impossible to evolve to meet the nation’s future supply chain demands,” the USMX said.
Union officials contend that USMX’s push for automation exposes “their ultimate goal of wanting to eliminate as many ILA jobs as possible, and replace our ILA longshore workers with robotic equipment.”
“The USMX has been clear that we are not seeking technology that would eliminate jobs,” the USMX said in its response. “What we need is 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 January 15 strike deadline looms just five days before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump who has announced plans to slap tariffs of up to 20% on imported goods which could potentially lead to increased shipping rates and major supply chain disruptions.
(Photo of ILA President Harold Daggett)
