Negotiations between ILA and USMX break down over disagreement around automation

Negotiations between the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) and International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) over a new contract for port workers along the U.S. East and Gulf Coast have broken down after a brief period of progress.

Both sides released statements saying there was positive progress on a number of issues, but, as the ILA said, once the issue of semi-automation arose, talks reached an impasse.

“For the first day and a half, discussions were productive, and both sides engaged in addressing serious issues,” the ILS statement said. “However, talks broke down when management introduced their intent to implement semi-automation—a direct contradiction to their opening statement where they assured us that neither full nor semi-automation would be on the table. They claimed their focus was on modernization, not automation.”

USMX said discussions went nowhere on a number of technology issues.

“The ILA is insisting on an agreement that would move our industry backward by restricting future use of technology that has existed in some of our ports for nearly two decades – making it impossible to evolve to meet the nation’s future supply chain demands,” said USMX. “The USMX has been clear that we are not seeking technology that would eliminate jobs. What we need is continued modernization that is essential to improve worker safety, increase efficiency in a way that protects and grows jobs, keeps supply chains strong, and increases capacity that will financially benefit American businesses and workers alike.”

The ILA said it has always supported modernization when it leads to increased volumes and efficiency. For over 13 years, the union’s position has been to embrace technologies that improve safety and efficiency, but only when a human being remains at the helm. The ILS says automation, whether full or semi, replaces jobs and erodes the historical work functions it has fought hard to protect.

The ILA said that studies within the industry confirm that no machine or algorithm can outperform the productivity of a skilled human workforce.

“Despite this, employers and certain media outlets perpetuate the false narrative that the ILA is stonewalling technological progress,” the union said. “This couldn’t be further from the truth.”

The ILA shut down all ports from Maine to Texas at 12:01a.m. Oct. 1, as ILA rank-and-file members began setting up picket lines at waterfront facilities up and down the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts.

The ILA rejected a USMX proposal made on Sept. 30, setting the stage for the first ILA coast wide strike in almost 50 years.

The two sides then released a statement Oct. 3 saying they had reached an agreement on wages and have agreed to extend the master contract until Jan. 15, 2025, and will return to the bargaining table to negotiate all other outstanding issues.

Both sides say they are committed to resuming negotiations and reaching an agreement.