A tentative settlement between the ILA and employers at East Coast ports represented by the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) for a 61.5% pay increase saw the ILA extending the existing master contract until 15 January 2025.  Extending the existing contract means that ILA members will not receive the wage increase until a full agreement is reached over a new contract, although pay increases will be backdated to 1 October at this point.

While the ILA members have returned to work after a three-day strike last week by union deferring the agreed pay increase it has retained the right to strike as negotiations continue.

“If we were to accept the wage increase now, we would have to sign a no-strike clause. This would give the employers the leverage to block us from addressing other crucial issues that impact every member’s job security and future. By extending the contract until January 15th, we keep our ability to negotiate and fight for the other important matters that go beyond economics,” ILA President Harold J. Daggett explained in a letter to members.

A number of outstanding issues remain to be negotiated including automation and semi-automation which caused the ILA to walk away from formal contract negotiations in June.

“By extending negotiations, we aim to establish strong protections against the introduction of remote-controlled or fully automated machinery that threatens our work jurisdiction,” Daggett said. The ILA has stated previously it is looking to halt all automation.