The International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) strike has been suspended after a tentative agreement with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group was reached on wages.
The new offer by USMX includes a 62 percent wage increase over six years, bringing the top longshoreman wage to over USD63 per hour. While the wage issue is resolved, discussions on other key issues, such as automation and retirement benefits, will continue until January 15, 2025.
“Without the strong cooperation of management and labour, port authorities simply cannot move cargo, maintain a fluid supply chain, and keep our nation’s economy growing,” stated American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) president and ceo, Cary S. Davis. “As it takes some time for operations to return to normal, we must be patient and are also reminded once again that our system is resilient and can withstand short and contained impediments. However, we are glad the strike has ended, and AAPA sincerely thanks the USMX and ILA for coming together and negotiating an agreement.”
Workers across 36 ports across the USA East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico halt work at ports reaching from Maine to Texas, amounting to the first coastwide strike since 1977.
The strike came as a result of an impasse over wage issues ahead of a September 30 deadline to reach a new contract deal. The current six-year agreement covers approximately 25,000 port workers employed in container and ro-ro operations at ports along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.
