The countdown has begun for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and East and Gulf Coast employers as they prepare to resume contract negotiations after a pause since June. With a 90-day deadline looming, the two sides must address complex issues including automation, work rules, and job responsibility.
Following a wage agreement that ended a three-day strike, sources indicate that the ILA’s push for increased job security against automation will be a major sticking point. The United States Maritime Alliance is likely to resist these demands. They have put an emphasis on the need for automation as it is needed to manage increasing trade and improve efficiency.
The USMX recently filed an unfair labor practices complaint after failed attempts to restart negotiations directly with the ILA, which has remained unresponsive. The Biden administration has also applied pressure to facilitate a resolution, fearing a protracted strike could disrupt port operations and have political repercussions ahead of the upcoming election.
The outcome of the negotiations remains uncertain, but the stakes are high for the future of port operations and labor relations.
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