Just as the shipping industry was getting ready for the doom and gloom of a January US port strike, negotiations between the ILA and USMX unexpectedly took a positive turn and finally reached an agreement.
The two sides have agreed a tentative deal on all outstanding issues for a six-year master contract. Port workers will continue to use the current contract until the new agreement has been ratified through a vote by ILA members, which has avoided the planned strike action for next week.
During October’s strike across 36 US East and Gulf Coast ports, the ILA asked port workers to return after just three days, but this was only on the understanding that new master contracts were finalised by January 15th.
Negotiations had continued to breakdown ever since and as the deadline got closer and closer a strike seemed inevitable, with ocean freight carriers preparing for port closures and even introducing a strike surcharge.
Therefore, it came as a great relief when the two parties issued a joint statement this week, which reads “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”