January 10, 2025 — The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) came to a tentative agreement in their ongoing contract dispute before their 15 January strike deadline.
Though this came as a relief to many, experts are still forecasting that the nation’s major ports are still going to see surges in cargo volume and costs through January.
January 8, 2025 — As the deadline for a return to strike activities along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts looms, leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Union (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are working overtime to reach a deal on automation at those ports.
On 6 January, CNBC reported the two parties had met clandestinely on 5 January to plan for the resumption of formal talks on 7 January. The meeting reportedly produced new language on automation, which, if approved by the bargaining committee, will give the union the right to add jobs to compensate for automation-related job loss.
December 19, 2024 — U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has taken a stand in favor of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in the group’s contract dispute with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which manages the ports along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts.
In mid-November, ILA leadership walked away from negotiations with USMX, refusing to compromise on automation, which USMX said must be integrated – in at least some ways – into port operations.