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Federal mediators have stepped in to try to jumpstart stalled contract negotiations between dockworkers and employers at U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports, a standoff that had threatened to snarl freight movement during the important autumn shipping season.
The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents shipping companies and marine terminal operators, both confirmed Thursday that they have agreed to resume contract negotiations in conjunction with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.
The mediated talks are set to take place during the week of Sept. 17, although no other details have been released.
Negotiations on a new deal to replace an existing pact that expires Sept. 30 broke down two weeks ago, with both sides accusing each other of intransigence. The contract covers about 15,000 dockworkers at ports from Maine to Texas.
ILA President Harold Daggett “is very appreciative that [federal mediators] offered their assistance and the negotiations are continuing,” ILA spokesman Jim McNamara said Thursday.
The maritime alliance confirmed it has agreed to participate in the mediation but had no other comment.
-By Bob Sechler. (c) 2012 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
If the ILA in other East coast ports are anything like the ones in New York/New Jersey then I more than welcome and support all the cuts that need to be made to their workforce. I worked for a long time as an Agent in Port Elizabeth and the clowns they have working as Stevedores are the most corrupt and wholly useless group of people I think I’ve ever met. The linemen were the worst of the worst…never on time, constantly fouling up the simplest job of them all, fouling props and damaging ships. All while driving tricked-out Hummers with 22 inch rims. And they wonder why people are saying they are overpaid.
From what I’ve heard, the main sticking point is the “no show” dockworkers. I’m sorry, but I’m a union member and I at least have to show up for work to get paid. You’re not going to get much sympathy from anyone if you expect to get top pay for little to no work. Can we please bring union labor back to some semblance of respect in this country???