Nearly 300 International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Wage Scale Delegates ended their two-day Wage Scale Meetings in Teaneck, New Jersey, on Sept. 5 by unanimously supporting International President Harold J. Daggett’s call for a blanket East and Gulf Coast strike on Oct. 1, if a new agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) cannot be reached by that time.
Sept. 30 will mark the expiration of the current six-year dockworkers labor agreement.
USMX said it is prepared to resume contract negotiations with the ILA to avoid a strike. The union has not carried out a coastwise strike in nearly 50 years.
Dockworker employer USMX said its current proposal offers “industry leading” wage increases, retention of existing technology language (no fully automated terminals and no implementation of semi-automated equipment or technology/automation without agreement by both parties to workforce protections and staffing levels), increases to employer retirement contributions, higher starting wages, and continuation of premier health care coverage.
Updates from both sides are available on their respective websites below.