ILA and USMX Reach Tentative Six-Year Contract to Avert Strike by 45,000 Dockworkers on January 15

Jan 9, 2025, 02:30 AM

The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract, averting a potential strike that was set to begin on January 15, 2025. The agreement, which covers 45,000 dockworkers on the East and Gulf coasts, addresses key issues including automation, which had been a major point of contention. The deal protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing new technologies that aim to modernize ports, making them safer and more efficient. The terms of the agreement will be subject to ratification by union members, with details not disclosed publicly until after the review process. This resolution comes after a three-day strike in October, which was suspended following a temporary agreement on a 62% wage increase over six years but left automation issues unresolved.