A strike deadline is looming for the East and Gulf Coast ports as the U.S. Maritime Alliance has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against the International Longshoremen’s Association. The alliance claims that the ILA is not bargaining in good faith and is refusing to negotiate on a new master contract. The NLRB is investigating the complaint, but a decision might not come until after the strike deadline.
The ILA’s six-year contract with the ports is set to expire, and the union representing 45,000 dockworkers is planning to go on strike at 12:01 a.m. on Tuesday if an agreement is not reached. The dispute between the two sides revolves around wages and the union’s proposed ban on increased automation of port operations, which could potentially lead to job losses. The USMX has expressed its respect for the ILA and its members, emphasizing their commitment to bargaining.
The union has dismissed the NLRB filing as a publicity stunt by the alliance and accused the foreign-owned shipping companies it represents of not adequately compensating the longshore workers for their labor. The ILA claims that the alliance was unprepared for contract talks when they first met over two years ago. The union has demanded significant pay raises to make up for inflation and to ensure that workers receive a portion of the profits made by shipping companies during the pandemic.
A potential strike could shut down up to 36 ports that handle nearly half of the cargo entering and exiting the U.S. A prolonged strike would likely cause disruptions in the economy, as well as shortages of some consumer products. The impact of a strike could lead to heavier vehicular traffic, cargo diversions to West Coast ports, and a backlog of ships waiting to be unloaded once the longshoremen return to work. Experts estimate that it takes four to six days to clear up a port strike for every day it lasts. If a strike occurs, it would be the first national work stoppage by the ILA since 1977.
