Our colleagues at the National Industrial Transportation League (NITL) have been providing updates on the labour dispute between the United States Maritime Alliance Ltd. (USMX), representing terminal operators at US East Coast and Gulf Coast Ports and shipping lines calling at those ports and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA).
On Friday, September 6, NITL Reported as follows.
The International Longshoremen’s Association held its Wage Committee meetings this week. The focus on Wednesday was on finalizing the ILA contract proposal and yesterday’s focus was on a Strike Mobilization Plan. Unfortunately, USMX was not part of the discussions, so the parties have still not returned to the bargaining table. According to press reports, the ILA is seeking close to an 80% increase in wages for the life of the contract, as well as changes to automation language in the current contract and issues surrounding jurisdiction. Unfortunately, the ILA continues to say that the parties are far, far apart in the negotiations and them seem more intent to strike on October 1. The delegates ended the meeting with unanimous support for an October 1 strike.
In advance of this week’s meetings, the ILA released a video with ILA President Harold Daggett and Executive Vice President Dennis Daggett talking about the potential for a strike on October 1. In the video, Harold Dagget states that the ILA will “shut them down” and “hit the streets on October 1” if the ILA’s demands are not met. The ILA released a follow up video yesterday with Daggett talking about a wide range of topics including automation/technology, President Biden (13:30) and the impact of a strike and Taft-Hartley (15:15). He closes by saying “I’ll cripple you!” when referencing the potential strike.
We will continue to keep you abreast.
