The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) announced yesterday evening that they have reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year master labor contract covering ports on the East and Gulf Coasts. The two sides agreed to extend the current contract until the ILA’s full Wage Scale Committee can schedule a ratification vote and USMX members can ratify the terms of the new contract.
U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) President and CEO Dan Halstrom issued the following statement:
“This tentative contract agreement is great news for red meat exporters and for all of U.S. agriculture. The assurance that there will be no work stoppage at East and Gulf Coast ports eliminates a cloud of uncertainty and bolsters the U.S. industry’s reputation as a reliable supplier of pork, beef and lamb. On behalf of USMEF’s membership, I want to thank the ILA and USMX for reaching this agreement and ensuring the continued movement of cargo.”
“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,” the two organizations said in a joint statement. “This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf coast ports – making them safer and more efficient and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.”
Mike Steenhoek, Executive Director, Soy Transportation Coalition, said in a statement:
“We sincerely appreciate that a long-term agreement has been achieved, which will avert a strike as early as January 16th. Throughout this process, we did not pick sides between the ILA and the USMX, but we most certainly are on the side of the American farmer. Having a reliable system of ports is clearly in the best interest of the American farmer.”
Sources: USMEF, Soy Transportation Coalition
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