Special Coverage

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

   The International Longshoremen’s Association said its members overwhelmingly approved a new, six-year master contract.    The contract covers some 14,500 workers at 14 ports that handle containerized cargo along the U.S. Atlantic and Gulf coasts.    The settlement ends more than a year of negotiations between employers, represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) and ILA. With the assistance of the offices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliatio...

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

   About 14,500 rank-and-file members of the International Longshoremen’s Union who work at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts are voting today on whether to ratify a new six-year master contract.    The tentative master contract was recommended for approval by the ILA’s 200-member Wage Scale Committee in March after months of difficult negotiations with employers represented by U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX).    ILA members will also be asked to approve local co...

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

   With rank-and-file members of the International Longshoremen’s Association scheduled to vote on April 9 on whether to ratify a new six-year contract negotiated by the union’s leadership with employers represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), the union said its President Harold J. Daggett is planning an overseas expansion and making the union “a national and global force.”    In a press release issued by the dockworkers yesterday, Daggett said “Our organizin...

Thursday, March 14, 2013

   Representatives from the International Longshoremen’s Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) have approved a tentative six-year master contract.    "I am extremely pleased to announce that today the parties have approved their tentative agreement for a successor master agreement," said U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Director George H. Cohen, in a statement released on Wednesday afternoon. "In doing so, the parties have successfully concluded lengthy, comple...

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

   Wage scale delegates for the International Longshoremen's Association on Tuesday afternoon approved, in principle, the proposed aspects of a master contract for its dockworkers on the U.S. East and Gulf coasts.    ILA spokesman Jim McNamara said the union and representatives of the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), the group that represents employers, will meet jointly on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. to review the complete master contract proposal. The 200-plus wag...

Friday, March 08, 2013

   The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and employers in the Port of New York and New Jersey on Thursday reached a tentative agreement on local contract issues.    Jim McNamara, an ILA spokesman, said the agreement with employers represented by the New York Shipping Association (NYSA) is "subject to some tweaking," but will be presented to local union officials next week when its 200-plus wage scale delegates meet to vote on a tentative master contract co...

Thursday, March 07, 2013

   Representatives for the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and their employers are continuing to hold negotiation sessions in an attempt to reach agreement on local contract issues in New York and other ports.    A post on the union's Facebook page Wednesday said the union and New York Shipping Association (NYSA), the group that represents employers in the Port of New York and New Jersey, "engaged in intense negotiations for (the) third day" and other port areas were a...

Wednesday, March 06, 2013

   The International Longshore and Warehouse Union said Tuesday that it had filed an unfair labor practice against Mitsui-United Grain, which operates a grain export terminal in Vancouver, Wash., on the Columbia River.    The union is complaining about a lockout of 200 members of ILWU Local 4 that began on Feb. 27. The company said it began the lockout after an investigator it hired allegedly found evidence that a union member who was part of the Local 4's labor relations commit...

Friday, March 01, 2013

   The International Longshore Workers Union is accusing Mitsui's United Grain Corp. of fabricating a story about an ILWU member sabotaging equipment at its grain export terminal in Vancouver Wash., to lock workers out.    Earlier this week, United Grain Corp fired an employee it believes vandalized equipment in December and had its lawyer send a letter to the union announcing the lockout . It has also released a summary of an investigator's report about the alleged sabotage of ...

Thursday, February 28, 2013

   The U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) and International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) are giving themselves more time to complete contact negotiations.     Both sides said Wednesday they had agreed to extend a self-imposed March 1 deadline for completion of local contract negotiations to March 8.    They added the extended deadline will coincide with the wage scale meetings planned by the union for the week of March 11 where union delegates will c...

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

   United Grain Corp. (UGC) said Wednesday it has locked out members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) from its grain export terminal in the Port of Vancouver, Wash., following alleged efforts to sabotage equipment there.    “UGC’s decision was based on evidence in an investigator’s report received Monday, February 25 that shows two significant attempts to sabotage export terminal equipment were carried out by a member of ILWU Local 4’s Labor Relations Com...

Thursday, February 21, 2013

   John Fageaux, lead negotiator for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union's Local 63, Office Clerical Unit (OCU), and Stephen Berry, lead negotiator for the employers of the OCU at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, issued a statement late Wednesday saying OCU bargaining units voted and agreed to ratify the terms of tentative agreements reached with the Harbor Employers Association member companies on Dec. 4, 2012.     The contracts for the 600 office c...

Thursday, February 14, 2013

   The International Longshoremen's Association revealed details of the tentative master contract it has negotiated with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) , posting them on the ILA Website on Wednesday.    The six-year contract would expire Sept. 30, 2018 and provide ILA members with a $3 increase over three years - a $1 increase on Oct. 1, 2014; another $1 increase on Oct. 1, 2016 and lastly a $1 increase on Oct. 1, 2017. The starting salary for new members remains $2...

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

   Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union's Local 63, Office Clerical Unit, have re-filed a complaint against APM Terminals in Los Angeles for alleged eavesdropping.     A similar complaint made last year by the union was dismissed in December after having been found without merit by the National Labor Relations Board.    The union's new complaint was filed on Jan. 24, stating APMT activated a feature in the terminal's telephone system that cou...

Monday, February 11, 2013

   The International Longshoremen's Association said its Wage Scale Committee, a group of about 200 union delegates, will meet in Tampa, Fla., on March 12-14.    The committee is the group that decides whether or not to recommend to union members to approve the union's master contract with employers.    On Feb. 1, the union and employers, represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), reached a tentative agreement on a six-year master contract.    The...

Friday, February 08, 2013

   The Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Employers Association, which represents 14 employers at the nation’s two largest container ports in negotiations with clerical workers who belong the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63 Office Clerical Unit (OCU), said all 16 bargaining units have failed to ratify a contract with employers.     American Shipper reported yesterday the contract was rejected by union members who worked at three of the companies that are represent...

Thursday, February 07, 2013

   Members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union's Local 63 Office Clerical Unit (OCU) rejected some of the proposed contracts that were reached with employers last December during ratification voting on Wednesday night, raising questions about a settlement that ended a strike that shut down the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach for eight days last fall.    After the 600 members of the OCU went on strike against terminals and steamship agencies, other members ...

Monday, February 04, 2013

   The International Longshoremen's Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance reached a tentative agreement for a new six-year master contract late last Friday, avoiding the possibility of a strike later this week, but negotiations over local issues continue.    George H. Cohen, director of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which has been assisting the two sides in contract talks, said "the tentative agreement is subject to the ratification procedures of both par...

Saturday, February 02, 2013

   The International Longshoremen's Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance have reached a tentative agreement for a new six-year master contract.    George H. Cohen, director of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which had been assisting the two sides in contract talks said "the tentative agreement is subject to the ratification procedures of both parties and, as well, to agreements being achieved in a number of local union negotiations."    In a ...

Friday, February 01, 2013

   The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) are continuing to meet with their current, twice-extended contract due to expire at the end of Wednesday, Feb. 6.    While some executives said they were encouraged that talks were continuing, other sources warned only modest progress has been made.    "I think it is a very good sign that they are still talking," said Curtis Foltz, executive director of the Georgia Ports Author...

Thursday, January 31, 2013

   The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) said Wednesday afternoon that bargaining with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) would continue today.    James Capo, USMX's chairman and chief executive officer, also said the two sides are "still bargaining," but he could offer no further comment.    In an update to members on its Facebook page, the union said yesterday it was "Ready to negotiate 'round the clock.'"    The two sides are reportedly meeting...

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

   The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) resumed contract negotiations on Tuesday, but sources say efforts to reform work rules and improve productivity in the Port of New York and New Jersey are likely to overhang national talks.    USMX is negotiating a master contract with the ILA for handling containerized cargo at 14 ports cargo on the East and Gulf coasts. The two sides are being assisted by the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conc...

Monday, January 28, 2013

   The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance are expected to resume contract negotiations this week with the assistance of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Concilliation Service, after a week of talks between the union and local employers about issues in individual ports.    Sources say little headway was made last week in talks with the New York Shipping Association where employers are attempting to bring costs and...

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

   The liner carrier Hyundai Merchant Marine on Wednesday advised customers that if longshoremen at U.S. East and Gulf coast ports strike when their contract expires Feb. 6, it will have contingency plans in place.    “Rest assured HMM and our vessel partners have contingency plans in place to recover from a strike as early as is feasible in order to deliver your cargo to its final destination with as little delay as possible,” the line said in a customer notice.    Members...

Friday, January 18, 2013

   Three days of bargaining on a new contract by the International Longshoremen's Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) wound up on Thursday, with the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Director George H. Cohen saying the two sides had "made progress" in their effort to negotiate a master contract for container cargo handled at 14 U.S. East and Gulf coast ports.    In the coming week, the two sides are expected to talk about local issues at the ports.  &...

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

   Representatives of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) are scheduled to continue negotiating a new contract on Wednesday and Thursday following an all-day bargaining session on Tuesday.    The union and employer group are meeting at the Seaview Hotel in Galloway Township, N.J., and reportedly were working after 5 p.m. on Tuesday in what the ILA described as "intensive negotiations."    The two sides are being assisted...

Monday, January 14, 2013

   Retailers are expected to ship heavier quantities of cargo through the nation's ports in January to beat a possible strike by longshoremen at East and Gulf coast ports.     The International Longshoremen's Association and management are trying to negotiate a new contract to replace the one that expires Feb. 6.    Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 2.3 percent in January over the same month last year, accordin...

Thursday, January 10, 2013

   Talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and New York Shippers’ Association (NYSA) over a local contract for New York and New Jersey dockworkers abruptly broke down Wednesday when ILA representatives walked out of the meeting at a Ramada Inn in Newark, N.J.    ILA spokesman Jim McNamara said the ILA left the meeting after a presentation by Joe Curto of the NYSA included "the same items that had been rejected for the last six months of talks we have had with...

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

   Talks between the International Longshoremen’s Association and New York Shippers’ Association over a local contract for New York and New Jersey dockworkers abruptly broke down Wednesday when ILA representatives walked out of the meeting.    The breakdown reportedly centered on work rules changes proposed by the employers that were unpalatable for the dockworkers’ union, after the two sides opened discussions Wednesday.    It follows what seemed to be positive momentum las...

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

   Gene Seroka, president of the Americas for APL Ltd., told attendees at the annual conference of the American Import Shippers Association and U.S. Association of Importers of Textiles and Apparel that contract negotiators for the International Longshoremen's Association and management will meet today and Thursday to discuss local issues in the Port of New York and New Jersey.    He added that next Monday through Thursday discussions will continue between the union and U.S...

Wednesday, January 02, 2013

   The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) agreed last week to continue contract negotiations through Feb. 6, averting a strike that would have begun on Dec. 30, but there are still difficult issues for the two sides to address in the weeks ahead, including work practices in the Port of New York and New Jersey.    "There is progress," said one source, who asked not to be identified. "If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago, I would h...

Friday, December 28, 2012

   The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the employers of their members, represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), have agreed to extend their contract 30 days, averting a potential strike at U.S. East and Gulf Coast ports that could have begun as soon as Sunday.     George H. Cohen, director of the U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, made the announcement Friday morning , saying "the container royalty payment issue has been agreed upon in princip...

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

   Three companies operating grain export terminals in the Pacific Northwest said members of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union rejected their last, best and final contract offer.    United Grain, Columbia Grain and Louis Dreyfus said they were "disappointed" with the vote against the offer, which they said was "fair and reasonable."    In light of the union’s rejection of the offer, the employers are reviewing their options. Regardless of the outcome, they rema...

Wednesday, December 26, 2012

   The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) director said the International Longshoremen's Association and the group trying to negotiate a new contract with them, the U.S. Maritime Alliance, have agreed to meet before their current pact expires on Dec. 29.     “FMCS Director George Cohen has called a meeting of the ILA and the Maritime Alliance in advance of the December 29th expiration of the contract extension. The parties have agreed to attend. Due ...

Friday, December 21, 2012

   A coalition of more than 100 trade associations from around the country is asking President Obama for help in preventing a strike by members of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) as the union posted a document on its Website briefing its members on preparations for a strike to begin at 12:01 a.m. on Dec. 30.    The "Strike Preparations" memo from ILA President Harold Daggett said "orders to handle containerized cargo shall not be honored," but that or...

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

   Ninety-four percent of transpacific shippers surveyed by American Shipper last week said they are concerned about a potential strike at U.S. East and Gulf coast ports at the end of 2012.     American Shipper’s bi-monthly Transpacific Pulse survey found that nearly 68 percent of shipper respondents were very concerned about a strike, and 26 percent were moderately concerned. Only 6 percent were not concerned at all.    The survey measured opinion from 65 shippers and eight...

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

   Shipper concern over the economic fallout that would result from a strike at U.S. East and Gulf coast ports is growing, after the abrupt breakdown in contract talks between the International Longshoremen's Association and employers represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) on Tuesday.    According to USMX, at a meeting in Newark, N.J., “the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) recommended a short contract extension to keep both parties at the bargaining ta...

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

   Negotiations on a new contract between the International Longshoremen's Association and employers represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) broke off abruptly Tuesday afternoon.    The union and management said they were going to discuss container royalties, payments that are made to longshoremen based on the weight of containerized cargo. USMX has wanted to cap those payments.    Benny Holland Jr., executive vice president of the ILA, said the union told managemen...

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

   Several grain terminals in the Pacific Northwest trying to negotiate a new contract with workers said Monday evening that they were rejecting the most recent offer from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union.    Monday evening, the public relations firm that has been representing the Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers, a group of four companies that operate export grain terminals on the Columbia River and Puget Sound, issued a statement that said “Columbia Grain, Louis Dreyf...

Monday, December 17, 2012

   The U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents shipping companies, terminals, and maritime associations in negotiations with longshoremen working at ports along the U.S. and Gulf coasts, confirmed the carrier members of the group's bargaining committee and a committee from the International Longshoremen's Association will meet this week to discuss proposals having to do with container royalty payments.     In a statement issued Friday, USMX said "Members of the USMX Bargaining ...

Friday, December 14, 2012

   While members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and their employers from Maine to Texas, are engaged in tense negotiations for a new contract that expires on Dec. 29, things appear to be much more placid in Montreal where longshoremen and employers are also negotiating a new contract that expires on Dec. 31.    “What we hear it is going well and negotiations are ongoing,” said Michèle Beaubien, director of communications at the Port of Montreal. She said employe...

Friday, December 14, 2012

   The nation’s largest shipper group, the National Industrial Transportation League, is asking President Obama to take action in the event of a work stoppage at East and Gulf coast ports later this month.    The International Longshoremen’s Association and their employers, represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), met for three days this week in Florida without coming up with a contract to replace the one that expires on Dec. 29. They will meet again next Tuesday for fu...

Thursday, December 13, 2012

   The U.S. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service said after contract talks on Tuesday and Wednesday the grain terminals represented by the Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers and International Longshore and Warehouse Union Locals 4, 8, 19 and 23 "have agreed they require additional time to review their options. In the interim, they have agreed to an FMCS request that they refrain from any public comments regarding the status of negotiations conducted under our auspices."    Th...

Thursday, December 13, 2012

   Three days of negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association and their employers ended on Wednesday without a labor agreement to replace the one that expires on Dec. 29.    The union said talks aimed a working out a new master contract with employers, represented by the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), will resume next week on Dec. 18 in Newark, N.J., with the discussion focusing on container royalties, an assessment based on the weight of containerized c...

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

   Leadership of the International Longshoremen’s Association on Monday authorized their president Harold J. Daggett to call strike when their contract expires later this month if the union is unable to agree on a new contract with employers.    About 200 ILA wage scale delegates, meeting this week in Delray Beach, Fla., with employer representatives from the U.S. Marine Alliance (USMX), voted unanimously to grant Daggett the ability to call a strike, said James McNamara, a spokesman ...

Monday, December 10, 2012

   An association representing a half dozen grain terminals on the Columbia River and Puget Sound said over the weekend that federal mediators have called for additional meetings on Tuesday and Wednesday in an effort to reach agreement on a new contract.    The Pacific Northwest Grain Handlers Association said the International Longshore and Warehouse Union did not accept a final offer from their members by a 5 p.m. deadline on Friday.    The association said while...

Friday, December 07, 2012

   A wide group of U.S. companies are urging the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and its employers to “make every attempt possible at reaching agreement on a new contract” when they begin meeting once again next week.    The National Industrial Transportation League, the nation's largest shipper organization, also contends that the need for building materials in the wake of Hurricane Sandy has added new urgency to the need to prevent supply chains from being disrupted. ...

Thursday, December 06, 2012

   It may take less time for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to dig out from the backlog cargo from last week's dockworkers' strike than some had feared.    Philip Sanfield, a spokesman for the Port of Los Angeles, said that overall process may end up being measured in days rather than weeks.    He said the huge size of the two ports - their terminals, workforce, railroad infrastructure and large number of truckers - give them a great deal of "car...

Wednesday, December 05, 2012

   Clerical workers at shipping terminals in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have reached agreement on a new contract with employers, ending a strike that had shut down the nation’s two largest ports for a week.    The Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Employers Association, which represents 14 employers covering 10 terminals in the two ports, said at 11 p.m. Pacific Standard Time that they had reached an agreement on a new contract to replace one that had expired on June 30, 2010...

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

   Antonio Villaraigosa, mayor of Los Angeles, said at a press conference today that the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 63, Office Clerical Unit (OCU) and employers represented by the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Employers Association have agreed to have a federal mediator assist them with their contract negotiations.    He said mediators from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service might become involved in the talks as early as today.  ...

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

   A half-dozen large shippers polled on a not-for-attribution basis by American Shipper this week said they were surprised by how quickly the breakdown in contract talks between clerical workers who work at terminals and steamship agencies in Southern California developed into a strike that has shut down 10 of the 14 container terminals in the ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach.    Clerks, who work for the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63 Office Clerical Uni...

Tuesday, December 04, 2012

   A strike by members of the 600 members of International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 63, Office Clerical Unit (OCU) enters its second week today.     The clerks first went on strike last Tuesday at the APM Terminal in Los Angeles, then added pickets at nine additional terminals on Wednesday. They and 14 ship agencies and terminals have been trying over the past two and a half years to negotiate a new contract to replace one that expired June 30, 2010.  ...

Monday, December 03, 2012

   A strike by clerical workers in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach at 10 of the ports' 14 container terminals entered its seventh on Monday.    Expressions of frustration by government and business leaders continue and ship congestion in the harbor could increase dramatically in the days ahead.    Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for round-the-clock negotiations with a mediator between the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 63 Office Cleri...

Friday, November 30, 2012

   Shippers are asking the White House for help in ending the three-day-old strike by longshoremen in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation's largest.    In a letter to President Obama. Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) President Sandy Kennedy said "given the enormous risk posed by a prolonged shutdown of the nation’s busiest ports, we urge you to consider all options, including invoking the Taft-Hartley Act, in order to restore the critical flow of commerce. We...

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

   The International Longshoremen's Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) traded barbs on Tuesday, but the parties are planning to meet again in early December to resume contract negotiations.    James A. Capo, the chairman and chief executive officer of USMX, issued a statement in which he said his organization "has given due consideration to ILA demands and shown its willingness to compromise on issues such as automation and chassis repair. It is disappointing that ILA negot...

Monday, November 19, 2012

   Harold Daggett, president of the International Longshoremen's Association, has broken weeks of silence during contract negotiations to complain that employers "want to grab more money away from the ILA and its members by placing a cap on container royalty."    The union also said its negotiators "would not budge" on their opposition to eliminating the 8-hour guarantee and overtime provisions during negotiations in September with U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), the organization that ...

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

   Hurricane Sandy destroyed thousands of homes, left millions without power, and caused shortages of gasoline in the New York and New Jersey area, but getting sufficient workers to man marine terminals in the Port of New York and New Jersey when they reopened this week has not been an issue.    Beverly Fedorko, a spokesperson for the New York Shipping Association, said longshoremen were eager to return to work and "anxious to get the port back and running and get that feeling of...

Thursday, October 25, 2012

   The director of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), George H. Cohen, on Wednesday said in a statement that negotiators for the International Longshoremen's Association and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) have completed two days of talks and "discussed a number of major issues."    "As a result of today's discussions, the parties will have their respective committees review their positions and analyze associated costs," he said. "Meanwhile, the parties' subcommittee...

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

   The vast proportion of transpacific shippers surveyed last week by American Shipper said they were advised by their carriers that they would be hit with sizable port congestion surcharges if U.S. East and Gulf coast ports were shuttered by a dockworkers' strike in early October.    As it turned out, shippers were given a reprieve when the International Longshoremen's Association and its employers agreed to a three-month extension in contract talks under the eye of a federal me...

Monday, October 15, 2012

   Talks between the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) on a new labor contract will continue this week with assistance from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).    In a statement issued Sunday, FMCS Director George H. Cohen said the ILA and USMX had met for five days, including Saturday, and "are making good progress on a number of difficult issues at the full committee and subcommittee levels.   ...