Washington, D.C. (November 13, 2024): After less than a week of renewed negotiations on a new labor contract for dockworkers at East and Gulf Coast Ports, the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) has walked away from the bargaining table on November 13 over the use of automation at the ports. The ILA suspended their strike last month after receiving a 62 percent pay raise for dockworkers; the strike pause will lapse on January 15, 2025. The Unions have not started accepting increased wages because that would require signing a no-strike clause.
The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents the Ports, issued a press release committing to negotiations to resolve the remaining issues for a Master Contract. The USMX views technology as key to improving efficiency at the ports for increased capacity, supply chain resilience, and enhanced worker safety. The USMX does not plan to use technology to replace union jobs. The ILA is firm in its position that technology is a threat to union jobs and issued a statement calling on the USMX to “alter its unwinnable strategy and resume negotiations.”
The strike suspension will end five days before Donald Trump is sworn as President and ILA President Harold Dagget says Trump “promised to support the ILA in its opposition to automated terminals.” Union members are firmly behind the fight on automation, setting up the potential for a resumption of a labor strike at East Coast Ports in January.
SFIA will continue to press for resolution of the outstanding contract issues, and government intervention if needed, to avoid an unnecessary disruption in supply chains.
For more information, please contact Bill Sells, SFIA SVP for Government & Public Affairs, at [email protected].