Negotiations between the International Longshore and Warehouse Workers’ Union (ILA) and the United States Maritime Exchange (USMX) are set to resume Monday, just over a week before the Jan. 15 deadline for a new contract.
The decision to restart talks, according to a source familiar with the negotiations, came swiftly after a period of informal discussions. Both sides confirmed the resumption.
The October agreement to extend the contract until January 15th came after a November breakdown in talks, largely centered on automation issues at the ports. The ILA had threatened to resume striking on January 16th, a date that was only days before former President Trump’s return to office. ILA members are eager for a deal, particularly the promised $63 per hour wage increase. However, the stalled negotiations have pushed the wage increase back until other contract disputes are resolved.
Recent meetings between President Trump and ILA leaders in Florida, where Trump voiced support for the union and opposition to automation, and pressure from President Biden’s administration on USMX to improve wage offers, may have played a role in the renewed talks.
Several shipping lines have begun preparing for a potential long-term strike in early January. Maersk issued a recent warning to customers to pick up their cargo and return empty containers in the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports before January 15th. Other carriers, including Hapag-Lloyd, Evergreen, and Yang Ming, have announced additional fees in the event of a strike.