ILA, USMX Sideline Possible Port Strike with Tentative Agreement

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year Master 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 Jan. 15, 2025,” ILA and USMX 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.”

Key takeaways:

• Close to 45,000 dockworkers at 36 ports along the East Coast went on strike October 2024 as a result of the ILA and USMX failing to reach an agreement prior to their Master Contract deadline. The ILA rejected USMX’s nearly 50% wage increase, among other items on the list.
• ILA and USMX agreed to continue to operate under the current contract until the union can meet with its full Wage Scale Committee and schedule a ratification vote, and USMX members can ratify the terms of the final contract.
• Details of the new tentative agreement will not be released to allow ILA rank-and-file-members and USMX members to review and approve the final document.