The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) remain at an impasse over the use of semi-automated rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMGs). After a three-day strike in October 2024, both parties extended their current master contract deadline until January 15, 2025, to resolve outstanding issues. However, recent negotiations broke down when the ILA accused the USMX of introducing semi-automation plans mid-discussion, contradicting earlier assurances.

ILA President Harold Daggett has warned of another potential strike. He called automation a threat to workers’ survival and said union members are prepared to fight to protect their livelihoods. The ILA maintains it supports progress, innovation and modernization but rejects “technology that jeopardizes jobs, threatens national security, and puts the future of the workforce at risk”.

Meanwhile, USMX has countered that automation is necessary to improve port efficiency and handle growing cargo volumes without expanding land use. The USMX cited success at a port that doubled its volume after adopting semi-automated cranes and reiterated that restrictions on technology would harm capacity and hinder economic growth.

There remains less than six-weeks to reach an agreement before the January strike deadline which could potentially happen a week before the next U.S. president is being inaugurated. The ILA said a strike would disrupt the U.S. supply chain and economy.

Source: The Maritime Executive