Copy of Coalition Letter to President Biden

The ILA had issued a statement before the coalition letter was sent – ILA Rank and File Members Ready To Take Ultimate Stand To Win A Fair Contract; They Will Strike On October 1st For Wages and Benefits They Believe They Deserve. According to the statement, “A strike at all ILA ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast at 12:01 am on October 1st seems more likely as time is running out to get a new Master Contract Agreement settled with USMX.” In addition, “A sleeping giant is ready to roar on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, if a new Master Contract Agreement is not in place,” said ILA President Harold J. Daggett. “My members have been preparing for over a year for that possibility of a strike.”

USMX RESPONSE TO JOINT ASSOCIATION COALITION LETTER 

“USMX is in strong agreement with the 177 trade associations who are calling for the immediate resumption of negotiations with the ILA to work out a new Master Contract agreement that recognizes their vital contributions, while avoiding an unnecessary and disruptive strike that would be harmful to all parties. We have tremendous respect for the ILA and its members, but it is disappointing that we have reached this point where the ILA is unwilling to reopen dialogue unless all of its demands are met.

The only way to resolve this impasse is to resume negotiations, which we are willing to do at any time.

We understand and appreciate the concern from these trade associations, who realize what is at stake if negotiations are unable to progress, and we call on the ILA to return to bargaining so we can reach a new deal before the expiration of our current agreement, something we continue to believe is possible if the other side is willing to meet.” 

Articles of Interest

• Biden won't block potential strike at East Coast ports, administration official says, Reuters (9/17)
• Biden won't block potential port strikes on East and Gulf Coast, FoxBusiness (9/17)
• Biden warned by 177 US trade groups on ‘devastating’ port strike risk, Lloyds List (9/17)
• Report: Biden won’t block dock strike, American Shipper (9/17)
• US shippers again ask White House to intervene in longshore contract talks, Journal of Commerce (9/17)
• US port strike would leave imports from Europe stranded, Seatrade Maritime (9/17)
• US East Coast port strike will hit more than half of the country's imports, Shipping Watch (9/17)
• Two weeks to stave off supply chain chaos on the US east coast, Splash247.com (9/17)
• Trade Groups Urge Biden to Act as East and Gulf Coast Port Strike Looms, gCaptain (9/17)
• US East Coast and Gulf Coast Port Strike by ILA Union Appears Imminent, Progressive Farmer (9/16)
• Port strike potential worries agricultural shippers, AgriPulse (9/18)