The union representing thousands of U.S. dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports has reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year contract Wednesday.
The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) 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.
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“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 on January 15, 2025,” 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.”
In October, ILA workers began a strike after failing to reach a deal for a new contract before it expired. The Port of Houston was one of the ports affected by the strike.
The strike lasted three days before the ILA reached a deal to suspend the strike until January 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract.
The union says 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.