TIA, Industry Leaders Urge Labor Agreement for East and Gulf Coast Ports

Last week, TIA joined more than 100 trade associations representing shippers and logistics providers to encourage the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) to resume labor contract talks and reach a long-term agreement. Negotiations between the union representing port workers at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast Ports, and management broke down in December. The current contract expires on September 30, 2018.

Shippers and logistics providers have increasingly used East and Gulf Coast ports to bring Asian imports into the U.S. following the expansion of the Panama Canal. East and Gulf Coast ports also gained market share on Asian imports as a result of the 2014-2015 West Coast port labor negotiations. Following that slowdown, West Coast port labor and management eventually reached a long-term labor agreement that extends until 2022. With long-term stability guaranteed on the West Coast, importers and transportation providers may move more cargo through the Pacific Coast ports until the ILA and USMX reach an agreement.

TIA members play an integral role serving customers in domestic and international commerce. TIA staff is closely following this issue, and will provide updates to membership as they are available. For more information, or to participate in the TIA International Logistics Conference, please contact Will Sehestedt at sehestedt@tianet.org.