The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) on Sunday announced plans for a widespread strike at all Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports, scheduled to begin at 12:01 am on Tuesday, October 1, 2024.
With just 36 hours remaining before the expiration of the current ILA-USMX contract, negotiations between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached an impasse. The strike would involve 85,000 ILA members and impact ports from Maine to Texas, the ILA said in a Sunday update posted to Facebook.
“United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) refuses to address a half-century of wage subjugation where Ocean Carriers profits skyrocketed from millions to mega-billion dollars, while ILA longshore wages remained flat,” the update said.
The potential work stoppage will affect 45,000 port workers at 36 ports responsible for handling more than 40% of total containerized goods entering the United States. The strike also comes at a particularly challenging time for ocean supply chains, which have already faced significant disruptions in 2024 due to conflicts in the Red Sea, drought in the Panama Canal, and the Baltimore bridge collapse.
The disruptions, combined with strong U.S. demand, have already caused average spot freight rates from the Far East to the U.S. East Coast to increase by over 300% between December 2023 and early July 2024, according to Xeneta.
Despite the high stakes, the Biden administration has indicated that the president does not plan to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act, a federal law that allows presidential intervention in labor disputes that create a national emergency.
The ILA says they will provide updates on any new developments by 11 a.m. on Monday, September 30.
As this week’s deadline approaches, the outcome of these negotiations is set to have far-reaching consequences for the U.S. economy and global supply chains.
The ILA said its members will maintain their pledge to handle military cargo and work passengers vessels throughout the strike.
Related Video – Longshoreman Union President on a Potential Strike: “I Will Cripple You!”
The Australian Government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has solidified Tasmania’s future as the strategic home port for the nation’s newest Antarctic icebreaker, RSV Nuyina. The move, seen as a...
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced a $9.5 million emergency funding package for SeaPort Manatee, aiming to accelerate the port’s recovery in the wake of Hurricane Milton. SeaPort Manatee, located...
Global logistics giant DP World has unveiled plans for a £1 billion (US $1.3 billion) expansion of London Gateway, aiming to transform it into Britain’s largest container port within the...
October 14, 2024
Total Views: 777
Why Join the gCaptain Club?
Access exclusive insights, engage in vibrant discussions, and gain perspectives from our CEO.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.