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International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Strikes Shutting Down East Coast Ports
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Around midnight on September 30th the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) went on strike. With this strike, ports from Maine to Texas have ceased operations. This affects 36 ports along the United States east coast and marks the first ILA strike in close to 50 years.
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Statement from the ILA:
International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Shuts Down All Ports On Atlantic and Gulf Coast On Oct 1st, As Strike Begins Against United States Maritime Alliance (USMX)
NORTH BERGEN, NJ. (October 1, 2024) The International Longshoremen’s Association shut down all ports from Maine to Texas at 12:01am on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, as tens of thousands of ILA rank-and-file members began setting up picket lines at waterfront facilities up and down the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.
The ILA rejected United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) final proposal made on Monday, setting the stage for the first ILA coast wide strike in almost 50 years. The USMX last offer fell far short of what ILA rank-and-file members are demanding in wages and protections against automation.
“USMX brought on this strike when they decided to hold firm to foreign owned Ocean Carriers earning billion-dollar profits at United States ports, but not compensate the American ILA longshore workers who perform the labor that brings them their wealth,” said President Harold Daggett, the leader of the 85,000-member ILA union. “We are prepared to fight as long as necessary, to stay out on strike for whatever period of time it takes, to get the wages and protections against automation our ILA members deserve.”
Even the leaders in Washington who encouraged the ILA and USMX to keep negotiations going up until the September 30th deadline, concluded on Monday that USMX and the greedy foreign companies they represent are only interested in protecting their fat revenues and not taking care of hard-working ILA longshore workers.
The ILA said USMX’s supposed wage increase offer fell far short of the demands of ILA rank-and-file members for them to ratify a new contract.
“USMX owns this strike now,” said ILA President Daggett. “They now must meet our demands for this strike to end.”
Contact: Jim McNamara, ILA. jmcnamara@ilaunion.org
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Current reports are stating that the Biden administration does not plan to invoke the Taft-Harley Act. The USMX did propose a offer yesterday that would include a 50% wage increase along with other benefits but was rejected by the ILA.
The USMX is made up of 13 members and three separate sets of representation. The ports, shipping associations and ocean carriers make up board.
We here at BOC will continue to monitor the ongoing negotiations and will provide updates as they become available. If you have any questions in regards to how your business is being affected please contact your local BOC representative.