Port Employers, Union Trade Blame Over Stalled Labor Talks as Critical Deadline Approaches

The U.S. Department of Labor has reached out to the United States Maritime Alliance in anticipation of a potential ports strike on the East and Gulf Coasts by the International Longshoremen’s Association, the employer group said on Monday.

The USMX and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) are at an impasse in negotiations for a new labor contract, raising the specter of a potentially devastating port strike along the East and Gulf Coasts just weeks before the U.S. presidential election.

The current contract, covering 45,000 dockworkers, is set to expire on September 30, 2024, with the ILA threatening a coastwide strike if no agreement is reached by the deadline. Both sides are now blaming each other over the impasse.

USMX said Monday that the U.S. Department of Labor, the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS), and other federal agencies have reached out to the USMX in an attempt to avert the crisis. Despite this intervention and the USMX’s willingness to negotiate, talks have stalled.

“Despite additional attempts by USMX to engage with the ILA and resume bargaining, we have been unable to schedule a meeting to continue negotiations on a new Master Contract,” USMX said in a statement. “We remain prepared to bargain at any time, but both sides must come to the table if we are going to reach a deal, and there is no indication that the ILA is interested in negotiating at this time.”

ILA Executive Vice President Dennis A. Daggett has taken a firm stance on the union’s intention to strike, framing the union’s fight as one for all workers against “corporate greed” and job erosion.

“Strikes are never easy, but in today’s world, with labor laws stacked against us and corporate greed at an all-time high, it remains one of the most powerful tools we have in our fight for justice. And make no mistake, we will be on the right side of history,” said Dagget.

The ILA argues that longshore workers kept supply chains running throughout the pandemic, despite suffering personal losses. Now, the union says these foreign-owned companies are refusing to share profits with the workers who made it possible. 

“This administration will not stand by while employers show disrespect to our hardworking members,” said Daggett.

The potential strike has alarmed various industries. Last week, a coalition of 177 trade associations has appealed to President Biden for immediate intervention, warning of “severe economic consequences” if a deal isn’t reached. However, the Biden administration has stated it does not intend to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to prevent a strike, instead encouraging both parties to “remain at the bargaining table and negotiate in good faith.”

“Let me be clear: the government should stand up for American workers, not foreign-owned corporations that seek to destroy our great jobs,” added Daggett. “We will fight for our jobs, our dignity, and our future. Dockworkers must not only be financially protected but also deeply respected.”

The USMX, on the other hand, is blaming the ILA for the current impasse. “Our goal remains the same—we want to bargain and avoid a strike, but time is running out if the ILA is unwilling to return to the table,” it said in a statement.