BREAKING NEWS: ILA, USMX strike tentative deal, ports resume operations

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached a tentative agreement on wages, bringing an end to the strike launched on October 1 that shut down operations at East and Gulf Coast ports.

Based on a joint statement, an agreement was reached to extend the Master Contract until January 15, 2025, giving the union and the employers’ alliance time to resolve remaining issues at the bargaining table. “Effective immediately, all current job actions will cease, and all work covered by the Master Contract will resume,” the statement said, allowing port operations to restart.

It has not been disclosed what the agreement entails. However, the ILA was asking for a US$ 5 per hour wage increase for each of the six years of the proposed new Master Contract. ILA President Harold Daggett said the ILA wants “absolute airtight language that there will be no automation or semi-automation, and we are demanding all Container Royalty monies go to the ILA.”

The Georgia Ports Authority announced that port operations will resume on Friday morning, October 4, following the end of the strike. Truck gates at the Garden City Terminal will reopen at 6:00 a.m. (ET), with Ocean Terminal gates following at 8:00 a.m. Vessel operations are set to restart between 8:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., while rail services will be back on track from 7:00 a.m. North Carolina Ports also issued a statement saying that it will resume normal operations tomorrow, October 4 at 8 a.m.

Port Houston announced that its Bayport and Barbours Cut Container Terminals will reopen swiftly on Friday, October 4. Gate hours will run from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., with ingates closing at 7 p.m., and no reefers accepted after 5 p.m. Rail operations will resume, and vessel operations are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. On Saturday, October 5, the terminals will have extended hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., with ingates closing at 4 p.m. No reefers or out-of-gauge cargo will be handled, and onsite empty yards will operate in line with terminal hours.

“Port Houston will not charge the ocean carriers storage on days the terminal gates were closed,” the port said.

JAXPORT said that its terminal operator SSA Jacksonville will reopen its gates at 1 p.m. on Friday, while all other terminal operators will continue to maintain their normal operating hours.

The Port of New York and New Jersey announced on X that despite the tentative union agreement, all marine terminal operators (MTOs) and depots will remain closed on October 4.

“The terminal operators will have mechanics on site in the morning to bring the terminal back to an operational status. Vessel activity will resume tomorrow night with information on truck gates to follow,” the port said.

Further details will be provided as the situation develops.