East and Gulf Coast Port Strike - Part 1

Art of Supply

“Let me be clear: we don’t want any form of semi-automation or full automation. We want our jobs—the jobs we have historically done for over 132 years.” -Harold Daggett, President of the International Longshoremen’s Association

In April of 2024, most ‘experts’ felt that a strike of unionized workers at ports along the East and Gulf Coasts was unlikely. The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) was firm about not working beyond September 30th without a signed agreement.

After 6 months of disagreement and an automated gate at the port in Mobile, Alabama that brought talks to a halt, the ILA was true to their word. They went on strike at the stroke of midnight on September 30, 2024.

Just 3 days later however, a surprise announcement revealed that the ILA and the U.S. Maritime Alliance had reached a temporary agreement: a $4 per hour rise annually for the next 6 years and a 90 day temporary halt to the strike.

But this story - and negotiation - is not over. Not by a long shot.

In this week’s episode of the Art of Supply podcast, Kelly Barner covers:

• The major issues on the table in the strike, as well as what remains to be settled before January
• The outside forces that played a role in bringing the strike to such an abrupt end
• Whether the union has won the battle but lost the war by separation pay from automation in the negotiation.

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