A six year deal has tentatively been struck between the US East Coast dockworkers’ union (ILA) and the local ship operator association, the US Maritime Alliance (USMX).
The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime alliance have reached agreement on all items, a joint reads, and both sides have agreed to operate under the current contract until they can each ratify the terms of the final contract.
“We are pleased to announce that ILA and USMX have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year ILA-USMX Master Contract, subject to ratification, thus averting any work stoppage on January 15, 2025,” the two sides said in a joint statement. “This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coasts ports – making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.
“This is a win-win agreement that creates ILA jobs, supports American consumers and businesses, and keeps the American economy the key hub of the global marketplace.”
News of the deal was announced 08 January.
Harold J. Daggett, International President of the ILA, credits an intervention by U.S. President elect, Donald J Trump, as being vital in concluding the deal. Mr Daggett cites a face-to-face meeting he had with President Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida on December 12, 2024, joined by his son and ILA Executive Vice President Dennis A. Daggett, as the chief reason the ILA was able to win protections against automation for his 85,000 members, and negotiate a tentative Master Contract Agreement.
“President Trump clearly demonstrated his unwavering support for our ILA union and longshore workers with his statement “heard round the world” backing our position to protect American longshore jobs against the ravages of automated terminals,” said ILA President Daggett. “President Trump’s bold stance helped prevent a second coast wide strike at ports from Maine to Texas that would have occurred on January 15, 2024, if a tentative agreement was not reached.”
At the mid-December meeting in Mar-A-Lago, the two ILA leaders met for two hours with President-Elect Trump and spelled out the cause for an impasse in negotiations with the ocean carriers represented by United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).
In the presence of ILA President Harold Daggett and Executive Vice President Dennis Daggett, President Trump spoke by telephone to USMX officials to express his support for the ILA. He then posted a powerful message on “Truth Social” announcing his support for the ILA.
Julie Su, the Acting Secretary of Labor in the current President Biden administration, issued the following statement:
“Congratulations to the International Longshoremen’s Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance on reaching a tentative agreement that will give workers security and ensure continued prosperity for America’s shipping industry. This administration has stood strong with workers every day and been unwavering in its view that when workers have a say and unions are strong, everybody wins – and contracts like this are proof. The parties sat together, tackled difficult issues, and in doing so have protected workers’ progress and ensured continued benefits for years to come.”
