The US may be headed for a supply chain crisis this fall as a labor contract between the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) approaches expiration on Sept. 30. This could ignite strikes as soon as Oct. 1 across major ports along the US East Coast and Gulf Coast, instantly paralyzing complex supply chains ahead of the Christmas shopping season.
The ILA represents more than 45,000 dockworkers across the US at major ports. On Sunday, Executive Vice President Dennis Daggett addressed members in a Facebook post, indicating talks between the union and USMX are still far apart.
Here is Daggett's memo to union members:
Attention ILA Members,
I want to address the recent communication from USMX and make it clear— do not be fooled by this letter. We are indeed continuing to bargain in good faith to settle all local contracts, but the reality on the ground is far different from the picture they are trying to paint.
Employers like APM Mobile have been dragging their feet on resolving critical issues. One such issue is their use of Autogate in TIR Lanes, which we consider a clear violation of our Master Agreement. This isn't just happening in one location; many other ports are facing similar challenges in getting local management to agree on terms and conditions for local supplemental agreements.
Poster Comment:
The strike date is set for 1 October, 2024:
https://www.workboat.com/ila-preps- for-east-and-gulf-coast-port-strike