Harold J. Daggett, President of International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), said the threat of a strike at all Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports is becoming more likely as time is growing short before the current contract expires in 80 days, on 30 September 2024.
Harold J. Daggett, who is also the union’s Chief Negotiator, noted that the employers represented by United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are running out of time to negotiate a new Master Contract agreement and avoid and coastwide strike on 1 October 2024.
“Only 80 days remain before the end of our current contract and we are waiting on USMX,” pointed out Daggett. “The actions of violating our current Master Contract by some of their members caused us to cancel scheduled negotiations with USMX in early June.”
The ILA cancelled Master Contract talks with USMX after discovering that the global port operator APM Terminals and Danish container carrier Maersk Line were utilizing an Auto Gate system, which autonomously processes trucks without ILA labor.
This system, initially identified at the Port of Mobile in Alabama, is reportedly being used in other ports as well, according to the Associatioan, which said on 10 June that it would not meet with USMX until the Auto Gate issue is resolved.
Additionally, the union is still waiting on results from an audit for jobs created out of new technology, a report they have been anticipating for almost two contract periods. The ILA has observed an increasing number of Information Technology (IT) personnel on marine terminals, with concerns that APM and Maersk’s IT departments in Charlotte, North Carolina, are encroaching on their jurisdiction.
President Daggett said the ILA rank-and-file members are 100% behind him and are willing the “hit the streets” on 1 October, if the union’s contract demands are not met.
“We will not entertain any discussions about extending the current contract, nor are we interested in any help from outside agencies to interfere in our negotiations with USMX,” highlighted Daggett, adding that “this includes the Biden Administration and the Department of Labor.”
ILA added it expects shipping companies to recognize the contributions ILA longshore workers made during the pandemic, when ports remained open, allowing companies to record billion-dollar profits.
