The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year Master
Contract. The two sides 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.
"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 coast 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."
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.
Port strike averted