The U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents employers at U.S. East and Gulf ports, issued a statement today expressing regret that the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) refuses to meet to revive negotiations for a collective agreement set to expire on September 30th.
Determined to notably counter the automaton of their jobs, about 45,000 dockworkers are threatening to strike on Oct. 1, a move that would shut down ports that handle about half of total US maritime cargo and severely disrupt supply chains. Other outstanding issues revolve around wages, benefits, pensions and cameras in work areas.
The statement by USMX argues that “Despite additional attempts by USMX to engage with the ILA and resume bargaining, we have been unable to schedule a meeting to continue negotiations on a new Master Contract. We remain prepared to bargain at any time, but both sides must come to the table if we are going to reach a deal, and there is no indication that the ILA is interested in negotiating at this time.”
In a letter to union members, ILA President Harold Daggett affirmed that USMX is not negotiating in good faith and has resisted improvements.
On automation, he stated specifically: “USMX is trying to fool you with promises of workforce protections for semi-automation. Let me be clear: we don’t want any form of semi-automation or full automation. We want our jobs—the jobs we have historically done for over 132 years. USMX members expects us to trust them? They don’t even live up to the current contract, and they want us to believe that they will honor workforce protections?”
(Port of New York photo)
