The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and maritime employers along the US East and Gulf coasts said Friday they will resume negotiations in November on the remaining terms of a new master contract following a tentative wage deal that ended a three-day dockworkers strike earlier this month.
The ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) said in a joint statement talks will take place in New Jersey next month on a six-year master contract. After settling on a wage offer on Oct. 3 that would increase longshore pay 62%, the two sides agreed to a contract extension until Jan. 15 to negotiate other outstanding issues.
“The ILA and USMX welcome the opportunity to return to the bargaining table and get a new agreement in place as soon as possible,” the two sides said in the statement, adding that no further details about the negotiations will be available prior to those meetings.
The biggest remaining issue has to do with contractual language around the use of marine terminal automation and new technology. Under the previous master contract that expired at the end of September, the ILA and USMX allowed marine terminals to implement semi-automated equipment provided that both the union and terminal agreed on staffing. But it completely barred the development of fully automated terminals.
The ILA has struck a more hardline tone during this bargaining cycle, calling for a ban on the use of any type of automation.
“The ILA is steadfastly against any form of automation — full or semi — that replaces jobs or historical work functions,” the union said in an Oct. 1 statement, the day its members walked off the job. “We will not accept the loss of work and livelihood for our members due to automation.”
Source:
Angell, M. (2024c, October 25). Ila, USMX said to resume talks on new master contract in November. Journal of Commerce. https://www.joc.com/article/ila-usmx-said-to-resume-talks-on-new-master-contract-in-november-5778794