NORTH BERGEN, NJ (November 13, 2024) The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) broke off talks with United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) on Tuesday afternoon, November 12, 2024, after the employer group continued pushing automation and semi-automation language in its Master Contract proposals that will eliminate ILA jobs.
The two sides were scheduled to meet for four days this week in New Jersey to work out agreements on all remaining items for a new Six-Year Master Contract Agreement between the ILA and USMX. In early October, following a three-day strike at all ILA-USMX ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast, the ILA and USMX reached a tentative agreement on wages, and extending the Master Contract until January 15, 2025.
As they gathered in Teaneck, New Jersey this week with their respective bargaining committees, USMX introduced language in their proposal for semi-automated equipment to be used at ILA ports, which the union outright rejected. The ILA recognized this as a renewed attempt by USMX to eliminate ILA jobs with automation and broke off talks.
“The ILA’s resolve remains strong not to surrender any ILA jobs,” the union said. “We are disappointed that USMX would attempt to disregard our ILA’s well-known position opposing job-cutting automation and semi-automation. Once again, our employers who are raking in billion-dollar profits annually have exposed their ultimate goal of wanting to eliminate as many ILA jobs as possible, and replace our ILA longshore workers with robotic equipment.”
The ILA said that the union’s rank-and-file members fully support this position and that the three-day strike in early October should serve as proof how much they will sacrifice to fight for a fair and decent contract.
The ILA remains hopeful that USMX will alter its unwinnable strategy, and resume negotiations as soon as possible.