US East & Gulf Ports Labor Talks Make Progress
Concluding three of four days of scheduled negotiations, the two sides announced agreement in principle on issues involving the introduction of new technology and automation and maintenance and repair of chassis within marine terminals and at off-pier facilities at the East and Gulf Coast ports. "We had a productive session in Florida," ILA president Harold J. Daggett and USMX chairman and CEO James A. Capo said in a joint statement. "The East and Gulf Coasts ports are crucial to the health of the nation's economy and we take seriously our responsibility to reaching an agreement without any disruption in the supply chain and operation of the 14 ports," they said. Capo and Daggett also directed management and ILA locals to begin bargaining on local port issues.
US Ports – Longshoremen, Maritime Alliance Talks Make Progress
The International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO, (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) ended two days of negotiations on a new contract today with both sides expressing confidence they will reach an agreement before the current pact expires on September 30. Concluding their initial Wage Scale meeting in Tampa, ILA president Harold J. Daggett and USMX chairman and CEO James A. Capo said they were optimistic the two sides would reach an agreement well before the expiration of the current contract. "We had a productive exchange of ideas that will give us a good start toward negotiating a contract sooner, rather than later, in 2012," Daggett and Capo said in a joint statement.
