Container Ship Negotiations End in Tentative Deal
After a contentious negotiation, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year master contract. The deal was reached just days before the deadline of January 15, 2025, and will be subject to ratification by both sides.
The agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coast ports. The ILA and USMX will continue to operate under the current contract until both sides schedule a ratification vote.
Details of the new tentative agreement will not be released until both the ILA rank-and-file members and USMX members have reviewed and approved the final document. Sources familiar with the contract said that the compromise on automation and semi-automation was key to the tentative agreement, with the ILA guaranteeing specific jobs associated with specific equipment being added.
ILA President Harold Daggett credited President-elect Donald Trump’s support as “key” to securing the tentative contract, saying that Trump had called USMX officials in mid-December to express his support for the ILA.
Industry groups have welcomed the news, with the American Apparel and Footwear Association saying that the agreement provides certainty to the industry and the communities and consumers they serve. The National Retail Federation also praised the deal, saying that it will pave the way for much-needed modernization efforts and ensure that retail goods arrive in a timely manner for consumers.