ILA Strike Watch 2024: ILA Says Strike More Likely

DEFCON levels for the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strike watch just went up a level. Or wait, down a level, as lower levels mean higher threat. Oh, DEFCON, how you vex me.

On Friday, the union posted an article in the ILA News section of its website that warns a strike is more likely, largely quoting and paraphrasing ILA President Harold J. Daggett. Highlights of the message include:

• “…a strike at all Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports is becoming more likely…”
• “…employers represented by United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are running out of time to negotiate a new Master Contract agreement and avoid and coastwide strike on October 1, 2024”
• “’The actions of violating our current Master Contract by some of their members caused us to cancel scheduled negotiations with USMX in early June.’”
• “’We will not entertain any discussions about extending the current contract, nor are we interested in any help from outside agencies to interfere in our negotiations with USMX,’ said President Daggett. ‘This includes the Biden Administration and the Department of Labor.’”

Obviously, for shippers, things between the ILA and USMX are still going in the wrong direction. Not only are the parties not negotiating, but the ILA is increasing its strike talk.

The ILA leans into its argument that APM Terminals and Maersk’s utilization of the Auto Gate system is in violation of the ILA-USMX master contract. Maersk denies it’s a violation, and other industry experts argue the ILA is using it as an excuse to hold out on negotiations and pressure the USMX for the 40% wage increase the union is demanding.

Self-posted ILA News articles tend to be short, so I’ve included the full content of the union’s article, only leaving out the “About the International Longshoremen’s Association” section.

Full Text of ILA’s Strike More Likely Article

ILA President Harold Daggett Says Threat of October 1st Strike At Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports Growing More Likely As Current Contract With USMX Expires in 80 Days

NORTH BERGEN, NJ – (July 12, 2024) The leader of the International Longshoremen’s Association says the threat of a strike at all Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports is becoming more likely as time is growing short before the current contract expires in 80 days, on September 30, 2024. Harold J. Daggett, ILA President and the union’s Chief Negotiator, said that the employers represented by United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) are running out of time to negotiate a new Master Contract agreement and avoid and coastwide strike on October 1, 2024.

“Only 80 days remain before the end of our current contract and we are waiting on USMX,” said ILA President Daggett. “The actions of violating our current Master Contract by some of their members caused us to cancel scheduled negotiations with USMX in early June.”

The ILA canceled Master Contract talks with USMX after discovering that APM Terminals and Maersk Line were utilizing an Auto Gate system, which autonomously processes trucks without ILA labor. This system, initially identified at the Port of Mobile, Alabama, is reportedly being used in other ports as well. The ILA said on June 10, 2024, that it would not meet with USMX until the Auto Gate issue is resolved. Additionally, the union is still waiting on results from an audit for jobs created out of new technology, a report they have been anticipating for almost two contract periods. The ILA has observed an increasing number of IT personnel on marine terminals, with concerns that APM and Maersk’s IT departments in Charlotte, North Carolina, are encroaching on their jurisdiction.

President Daggett said the ILA rank-and-file members are 100 percent behind him and are willing the “hit the streets” on October 1st, 2024, if the union’s contract demands are not met.

“We will not entertain any discussions about extending the current contract, nor are we interested in any help from outside agencies to interfere in our negotiations with USMX,” said President Daggett. “This includes the Biden Administration and the Department of Labor.”

Whenever USMX resumes negotiations, the ILA said it expects shipping companies to recognize the contributions ILA longshore workers made during the pandemic, when ports remained open, allowing companies to record billion-dollar profits.

ILA Support for Trump After Assassination Attempt

The ILA has not endorsed President Trump in the aftermath of the horrible assassination attempt, which injured the former president’s ear and killed an attendee of his rally. However, with a picture (shown right) of its President Daggett shaking hands with President Trump, the ILA did post an ILA News article in which Daggett called on all ILA members to pray for President Trump and the victims at his rally this Saturday.

The article then turns to Daggett recalling the November meeting he had with President Trump. This is particularly interesting coming right off the previous ILA News article in which the union’s president reiterated how he and the union are not interested in any help from the Biden Administration.

Last week, in Universal Cargo’s ILA Strike Watch, I wrote about the union shunning the Biden Administration and Daggett having met with President Trump. One of the things I pointed out was the lack of coverage and details about the meeting from media outlets and other sources. Daggett shares a few details in the ILA News article, all of which sound positive. Here are the highlights:

• It was a 90-minute meeting.
• Daggett described it as wonderful and productive.
• They discussed automation.
• Daggett says President Trump promised to support the ILA in opposing automated terminals in the U.S.
• Daggett expressed concerns to President Trump about “Right To Work” laws.

Ultimately, Daggett condemned political violence and called for unification and toned down “vitriolic rhetoric,” so Americans can freely support the candidates they believe can deliver on the issues that are important to them and their families.

Again, ILA News articles are short, so here’s its full content.

Full Text of ILA’s Daggett/Trump Article

ILA President Harold Daggett Says Threat of October 1st Strike At Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports Growing More Likely As Current Contract With USMX Expires in 80 Days

NORTH BERGEN, NJ – (July 15, 2024) International Longshoremen’s Association President Harold J. Daggett expressed relief that the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump was unsuccessful and called on all ILA members to pray for the victims at the Saturday rally in Western Pennsylvania.

“It was sickening to watch a political rally suddenly turn into a bloody battlefield with our former President Trump the target of a deranged shooter,” said ILA President Daggett. “The ILA and its 85,000 members join all Americans in offering collective prayers to Donald Trump, his family and the victims at Saturday’s rally.”

ILA President Daggett enjoys a long relationship with Donald Trump going back decades in New York City. Both Trump and Daggett are the same age and were both from Queens, New York.

In late November 2023, former President Trump invited the ILA president to meet with him in Florida at Mar-a-Lago,

“We had a wonderful, productive 90-minute meeting where I expressed to President Trump the threat of automation to American workers,” said ILA President Harold Daggett. “President Trump promised to support the ILA in its opposition to automated terminals in the U.S. Mr. Trump also listened to my concerns about Federal “Right To Work” laws which undermines unions and their ability to represent and fight for its membership.”

The ILA leader said it is time for all Americans to tone down vitriolic rhetoric.

“We condemn political violence and call for all Americans to unify,” said President Daggett. “All Americans can fight for issues that are important to them and their families and freely support those candidates they believe can deliver.”

ILA Strike Watch Posts

If you want to go back and revisit the events leading to where we are now, here are Universal Cargo’s ILA Strike Watch 2024 posts plus ones on the situation outside of official “Strike Watch” posts:

ILA Stance Is Worse Than Just Threatening Strike

ILA Already Threatening Strike

We Have to Talk About the ILA Strike Threat

How to Prepare for Potential ILA Port Disruption

No One Knows What Will Happen with ILA Port Disruption

Early Peak Season, High Freight Rates, & 5 Factors Shaping Ocean Freight Shipping 2024

ILA Strike Watch 2024: Cancelled Talks & Strike Threat Increase

Are There Any Signs the Early Peak Season Is Slowing Down?

ILA Strike Watch 2024 – US Trade Groups Ask Biden to Get ILA to Negotiation Table

ILA Strike Watch 2024: Biden No, Trump Yes?