AAFA Urges Union Return to Bargaining Table to Prevent January Strike
The head of the American Apparel and Footwear Association is urging the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) to continue negotiating with the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) to reach a labor agreement before the current one expires Jan. 15.
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AAFA CEO Steve Lamar's remarks followed President-elect Donald Trump Truth Social post saying he had met with the ILA and discussed the use of automation at East and Gulf coast ports. Automation has been a sticking point for the ILA, and stakeholders are concerned that an inability of the ILA and the USMX to reach an agreement on that issue could lead to another strike after Jan. 15 (see 2412090031).
"We urge the ILA to formally return to the negotiating table to finalize a contract with USMX that builds on the well-deserved tentative agreement of a 61.5 percent salary increase. Like our messages to President [Joe] Biden, we urge President-elect Trump to continue his work to strengthen U.S. docks -- by meeting with USMX and continuing work with the ILA -- to secure a deal before the January 15 deadline with resolution on the issue of automation," Lamar said in a statement.
A potential strike next month would be ILA's second walkout since the contract expired Sept 30. The ILA had gone on a three-day strike in October at terminals at East and Gulf coast ports, but that strike ended after the ILA and USMX came to an agreement on pay and extended the ILA's master contract from Sept. 30 to Jan. 15 (see 2410040038).
Lamar said the three-day strike in October resulted in backlogs lasting over a month.