ILA Members Ratify New 6-Year Agreement
The more than 14,000 waterfront workers at 15 East and Gulf Coast ports have ratified a new six-year master agreement between the Longshoremen (ILA) and the port employer group the United States Maritime Alliance.
The previous contract expired in September and, after a year of negotiations and several contract extensions, an agreement was reached in February with the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).
The new agreement includes wage increases, job protections related to new technology and automation, limits on outsourcing and subcontracting and maintaining current health care benefits.
Along with the master contract, most local agreements covering port-specific issues have been ratified with agreements in Baltimore, Hampton Roads, Va., and Philadelphia expected next week, says the ILA.
ILA President Harold J. Daggett said:
We all worked very hard, achieved landmark improvements and protected our members and our union for many years.
