Special to the Herald

NORTH BERGEN/LYNDHURST, NJ – The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year Master Contract. The two sides agreed to continue to operate under the current contract until the union can meet with its full Wage Scale Committee and schedule a ratification vote, and USMX members can ratify the terms of the final contract.

The ILA had a three-day walkout last October, but then agreed to go back to work setting a new deadline of Jan. 15, 2025. The three-day work stoppage affected ports from Maine to Texas. The ILA is seeking a significant pay increase in addition to the elimination of the use of automated cranes, gates, and container-moving trucks in unloading or loading freight. 

“We are pleased to announce that ILA and USMX have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year ILA-USMX Master Contract, subject to ratification, thus averting any work stoppage,” the two sides said in a joint statement. “This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coast ports – making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.”

“This is a win-win agreement that creates ILA jobs, supports American consumers and businesses, and keeps the American economy the key hub of the global marketplace.”

The Port of Savannah is the second-busiest port on the East Coast and the fourth busiest in the nation. The Port of Brunswick is the nation’s second-busiest for vehicle cargo.

Details of the new tentative agreement will not be released to allow ILA rank-and-file-members and USMX members to review and approve the final document.