Shipping and Logistics

Maritime union warns of impending coastwide ports strike

July 19, 2024

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have just over two months left to reach a new labor agreement and avoid a strike at all Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports. However, with talks still suspended, ILA’s president says a strike looks more likely with each passing day.

ILA is North America’s largest maritime workers union, representing 85,000 longshore workers on the East and Gulf Ports, the Great Lakes, Puerto Rico, and major US rivers.

Last month, ILA halted master contract negotiations with USMX over an automation dispute. The union has said talks will remain suspended until contract violators APM Terminals and Maersk Line resolve the disputed auto gate issue.

USMX represents employers of the East and Gulf Coast longshore industry, including carriers, marine terminal operators, and port associations. APM Terminals and Maersk Line are members.

Maersk previously told SMU it was in full compliance with the master contract, which is set to expire on Sept. 30.

ILA President and Chief Negotiator Harold J. Daggett said USMX-represented employers “are running out of time to negotiate a new master contract agreement and avoid a coastwide strike on Oct. 1, 2024.”

The union said its members 100% support Daggett and are ready to “hit the streets” on Oct. 1 if their contract demands are not met.

When negotiations resume, ILA “expects shipping companies to recognize the contributions ILA longshore workers made during the pandemic, when ports remained open, allowing companies to record billion-dollar profits.”

In a statement sent to SMU, USMX assured customers and the public that “there is forward movement toward resolution” of the issues.

It said it remains ready and willing to return to the bargaining table, to come to an accord, and to avoid further disrupting cargo flows and the US economy.

Calls for mediation

Late in June, a coalition of organizations representing manufacturers, importers, exporters, logistics providers, and other supply chain stakeholders called on President Joe Biden’s administration to mediate between both parties and help resume contract negotiations.

Among the ~160 groups signing on to the letter were Heating, Air-conditioning, & Refrigeration Distributors International (HARDI), the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, and the US Chamber of Commerce.

The groups said a strike is the last thing the supply chain needs, considering other ongoing challenges like Houthi attacks, port congestion, and increased freight rates.

However, Daggett responded that the union “will not entertain any discussions about extending the current contract, nor are we interested in any help from outside agencies to interfere in our negotiations with USMX. This includes the Biden Administration and the Department of Labor.”

Laura Miller

Laura Miller is a reporter and editor for Steel Market Update. She has held a variety of positions within the steel industry since 2007, including reporting and editing for Steel Business Briefing/Platts, the Association for Iron and Steel Technology, and Kallanish Commodities, as well as marketing for what was then known as ThyssenKrupp Steel USA (now AM/NS Calvert). After a five-year hiatus working across other industries, she returned to steel in 2021 and has covered the flat rolled, tubular, and trade areas of the industry. She is a member of the Association of Women in the Metal Industries and a past-president of the AWMI Pittsburgh Chapter. She holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. She can be reached at laura@steelmarketupdate.com or 724-759-7869.