The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are set to resume contract talks on Tuesday, as a strike threatens to disrupt East and Gulf Coast ports in January.
The ILA, representing 45,000 US dockworkers, went on strike in the fall, but reached a tentative deal with employers in October that included a 62% wage hike over six years. However, issues related to automation remain unresolved.
If no agreement is reached by January 15, the parties could be back at square one, with the wage agreement taken off the table. President-elect Trump has expressed support for dockworkers’ concerns over automation, but it remains unclear whether this will influence the talks.
The USMX and ILA broke down in November’s negotiations, leaving thousands of jobs and shipments at risk. With a second strike looming, the stakes are high for both parties to reach an agreement on automation and other key issues.
Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/dockworkers-union-employers-resume-talks-strike-threat-looms