Some 270 business organizations -- including at least a dozen from the trucking industry -- have sent a letter to the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. asking them to return to resume contract talks in hopes of avoiding another strike at the 36 ports on the East and Gulf coasts.
The two sides were to have met four times during the week of Nov. 11. However, the dock workers' union broke off talks when the USMAL included wording about allowing automation at the ports, an issue of major contention for the longshoremen. The two sides have not met since, and the deadline for a new contract is Jan. 15.
Some 47,000 dock workers in East and Gulf Coast ports went on strike at midnight Oct. 1 and returned to work Oct. 3. It was the union's first large scale work stoppage in 50 years, and snarled supply chains across the eastern and southern U.S.
The strike ended with members agreeing to a 62% wage increase over six years. The two sides also agreed to meet to discuss other issues.
The letter, addressed to Harold Daggett, president of the International Longshoremen’s Association, and David Adam, chairman and CEO United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd., said:
"On behalf of the undersigned organizations representing American manufacturers, farmers and agribusinesses, wholesalers, retailers, restaurants, importers, exporters, distributors, transportation and logistics providers, and other supply chain stakeholders, we are writing to urge both the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance to return to the bargaining table with the goal of reaching a new labor contract before the new Jan. 15 contract expiration date.
"It is imperative for the parties to resume negotiations and remain at the table until a new contract is reached. We know significant issues remain between the parties. However, we continue to believe the only way to resolve these issues and come to an agreement is to actually stay at the negotiating table.
"The continuing start and stop of the negotiations leads to further uncertainty in the supply chain, which continues to cause challenges.
"We understand that automation and technology continues to be the biggest issue of disagreement between the parties. We continue to believe there is a path forward for the parties to address this issue. It is critical that our ports and terminals have the ability to modernize their systems and processes in order to remain globally competitive and be able to handle the continuing rise of trade volumes, both imports and exports, through our ports. Modernization can only happen through true partnership between labor and management, as well as the other supply chain stakeholders that rely on these ports. Modernization efforts will benefit all parties and are essential to address current and future throughput issues.
"We firmly believe the remaining issues can only be resolved by returning to the negotiating table and remaining until a final deal is complete."
Among those signing the letter were:
- American Trucking Associations
- Florida Trucking Association
- Ohio Trucking Association
- Oregon Trucking Association
- Nevada Trucking Association
- New Jersey Motor Truck Association
- North Dakota Motor Carriers Association
- South Carolina Trucking Association
- Transportation Intermediaries Association
- Trucking Association of New York
- Virginia Trucking Association
- Washington Trucking Association
