The port of Philadelphia shared an update on the looming strike action set to affect the entire US East and Gulf coasts.
While PhilaPort has been monitoring the situation closely, it said that it is not directly involved in any of the negotiations. In Philadelphia, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) contract consists of two parts, the local contract, and the master contract. The local contract sets the wages and manning scale for breakbulk and ro-ro cargoes (paper, steel, wood pulp, lumber, fruit and autos) within the port.
The local contract is negotiated between the Philadelphia Marine Trade Association (PMTA), an association made up of local employers, and ILA locals 1291, 1242, and 1566. The master contract sets the wages and manning scale for containers along the entire East and Gulf coast from Maine to Texas. The master contract is negotiated between United Stated Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the ILA.
USMX represents employers of East and Gulf coast longshore industry. Membership consists of container carriers, including the largest carriers and all major marine terminal operators representing each port on the East and Gulf coast.
At the time of publication, the master contract negotiations are not complete and all the signatory container terminals on the East and Gulf coast will likely strike on October 1 including PhilaPort’s Packer Avenue Marine Terminal.
The PMTA and the local ILA have been in recent negotiations however, the local contract is still not signed which will likely result in the Tioga Marine Terminal, Pier 80, and Pier 122 being on strike on October 1. Even if the local agreement were to be signed prior to the deadline it is unlikely the ILA would work breakbulk/ro-ro cargoes absent a master contract agreement.
