International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) Expect Master Contract Talks To Begin Following May 17th Deadline For Local Port Negotiations To Likely Conclude; Both Sides Committed To Reach New Agreement Before Current Pact Expires September 30, 2024

NORTH BERGEN, NJ (May 13, 2024) – The leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX) announced today that they expect Master Contract negotiations will begin following the likely completion of local contract bargaining this week at all Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports.

“We are confident that with tentative local contracts negotiations scheduled completed by the May 17th deadline, the ILA and USMX can begin full Master Contract talks with the goal of reaching an agreement on a new pact before the September 30, 2024, expiration of the current contract,” said ILA President Harold J. Daggett and USMX Chairman/CEO David F. Adam, in a joint statement. “The ILA and USMX expect to continue the success of our 2012 and 2018 Master Contract negotiations where two landmark six-year agreements were achieved without any disruption or delays in shipment of cargo.”

The ILA represents 85,000 members at ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts; U.S. and Canadian Great Lakes ports; major U.S. Rivers; Puerto Rico; Eastern Canada and the Bahamas.

USMX represents employers of the East and Gulf Coast longshore industry. Membership consists of Container Carriers, including the largest carriers and carrier alliances worldwide, all major Marine Terminal Operators, and Port Associations representing each port on the East and Gulf Coasts.