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United States Maritime Alliance News

10 Apr 2013

Retail Industry Applauds ILA Labor Agreements

“Today’s vote ratifying a new, long-term master labor contract is welcomed news to the nation’s retailers, who have been on pins-and-needles for the past year due to the possibility of a supply chain disruption along the 14 East and Gulf Coast container ports. “The ILA and United States Maritime Alliance should be commended for reaching today’s pinnacle vote, and doing so without engaging in any disruption, stoppage, lockout or strike. “The retail industry would also like to recognize the dedication of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) and the hard work of FMCS Director George Cohen and his team of negotiators, who managed to keep both sides at the table to hammer out this deal. “The nation’s ports are our economic lifeline to the world.

13 Mar 2013

USMA & ILA Confirm Contract Agreement

Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service Director George H. Cohen on negotiations between United States Maritime Alliance & the International Longshoreman's Association. "I am extremely pleased to announce that today the parties have approved their tentative agreement for a successor Master Agreement. In doing so, the parties have successfully concluded lengthy, complex and understandably sometimes contentious negotiations concerning a multitude of economic and job related issues. "This monumental result, which will be submitted to their respective memberships for ratification, paves the way for six years of stable labor-management relations covering all the Atlantic and Gulf Coast ports.

17 Jan 2013

Talks to Avert US Port Strikes Continue

Update on United States Maritime Alliance and International Longshoremen's Association labor contract negotiations. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service Director George H. "The United States Maritime Alliance and the International Longshoremen's Association conducted negotiations during the three day period January 15-17, 2013. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and 67 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities.

28 Dec 2012

Update on ILA Negotiations

Statement by FMCS Director George H. "The container royalty payment issue has been agreed upon in principle by the parties, subject to achieving an overall collective bargaining agreement. The parties have further agreed to an additional extension of 30 days (i.e., until midnight, January 28, 2013) during which time the parties shall negotiate all remaining outstanding Master Agreement issues, including those relating to New York and New Jersey. "Given that negotiations will be continuing and consistent with the Agency's commitment of confidentiality to the parties, FMCS shall not disclose the substance of the container royalty payment agreement.

19 Dec 2012

Container Cliff’ Imminent as Contract Negotiations Break Down

NRF Calls on President Obama to Immediately Intervene to Prevent Port Strike. The National Retail Federation has issued the following statement from NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold on the breakdown of contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd.: “It is extremely disheartening to learn that the two sides failed to reach an agreement during today’s negotiations. NRF urges both sides to remain at the table until a deal is reached. “It is imperative that both sides verbally announce their intentions to return to the negotiations. A coast-wide port shutdown would have a significant impact across all businesses and industries that rely on the ports, particularly retail.

17 Dec 2012

NRF Urges President to Intervene in Port Negotiations

NRF: East and Gulf Coast Strike Would Have Devastating Implications for the Retail Industry. The National Retail Federation today sent a letter to President Obama to express the retail industry’s growing concern if a contract agreement isn’t reached between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. The two sides have been in negotiations, with the assistance of federal mediators, for the past few months with little demonstrable progress. The concern for a coast-wide strike is ever increasing. While another round of talks is scheduled for this week, the contract deadline – December 29 – is quickly approaching.

14 Oct 2012

Conciliator Reports on US Ports Labor Contract Talks

Statement by FMCS Director on United States Maritime Alliance & International Longshoremen's Association Labor Negotiations. Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) director George H. "I am pleased to announce that five days of productive negotiations between the parties concluded on Saturday and that negotiations will resume next week under the auspices of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Further, I wish to commend the parties for their hard work and commitment to this process. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation.

21 Sep 2012

US East Coast Labor Contract Agreement Deadline Extended

Statement issued by Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) extends bargaining agreement period to 29, Dec. 2012. In full the statement by FMCS Director George H. "I am pleased to announce that at the close of today's [20, Sept. 2012] productive negotiation session, in which progress was made on several important subjects, the parties have agreed to extend the collective bargaining agreement due to expire on September 30, 2012 for a ninety (90) day period, i.e. through December 29, 2012. In taking this significant step, the parties emphasized that they are doing so "for the good of the country" to avoid any interruption in interstate commerce.

20 Sep 2012

Feds: USMA & ILA Agree to 90-day CBA Extension

Statement by FMCS Director George H. I am pleased to announce that at the close of today's productive negotiation session, in which progress was made on several important subjects, the parties have agreed to extend the collective bargaining agreement due to expire on September 30, 2012 for a ninety (90) day period, i.e. through December 29, 2012. In taking this significant step, the parties emphasized that they are doing so "for the good of the country" to avoid any interruption in interstate commerce. This extension will provide the parties an opportunity to focus on the outstanding core issues in a deliberate manner apart from the pressure of an immediate deadline. The negotiations on the Master Agreement will be conducted during the same time frame as negotiations for local agreements.

12 Sep 2012

Logistics Giant Urges US East Coast Labor Settlement

Lilly & Associates a multinational logistics services company headquartered in Miami, Florida,  joins shipping community in urging port labor resolution. With negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. set to resume next week, Lilly & Associates International strongly urges a resolution of their contract agreement prior to the September 30 deadline. “A resolution between the two sides is extremely important for shippers. Without an agreement, the adverse effects on the national and global economy will be extremely dire. It is in the best interest for both parties at the negotiating table to facilitate the movement of goods at East and Gulf Coast ports prior to the holiday season…

02 Apr 2012

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.

26 Jun 2012

Shippers Fear US East Coast Port Strike

Stalled contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association and United States Maritime Alliance are scheduled to resume this week, but many shippers are preparing for the worst this fall, according to an online poll by 'The Journal of Commerce'. More than 75 percent of respondents consider labor disruption at East and Gulf Coast ports likely, and 68.1 percent have contingency plans in place to divert cargo. The ILA has not had a coastwide strike since 1977, but many shippers became concerned after a heated panel discussion between ILA President Harold Daggett and USMX president James Capo at The Journal of Commerce's TPM conference in March. Apprehension has increased over the last few months as both sides released statements about ongoing negotiation difficulties.

17 Jul 2012

'Keep Talking' Retailers Urge Gulf Port Contract Negotiators

The National Retail Federation wishes to avoid any potential supply chain disruption, delay or stoppage, which could stifle global commerce and jeopardize the fragile U.S. economic recovery. “Any kind of disruption at the ports would not only add costly delays to our members’ supply chains and other industries relying on East and Gulf Coast maritime facilities, but potentially further threaten the fragile economic recovery as we enter the peak [holiday] shipping season,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay wrote in a letter to the parties involved. Shay’s remarks were contained in a letter to the International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents the dock workers, and United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd., which represents the terminal operators.

19 Jul 2012

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.

28 Aug 2012

Labor & Management Urged to Negotiate US East Coast Settlement

The National Retail Federation (NRF) say they will have to divert cargo elsewhere in a matter of days unless stand-off ends. “We understand and recognize that there are tough issues that need to be resolved,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “The issue will only be resolved, however, by agreeing to stay at the negotiating table until a final deal is reached. Failure to reach agreement will lead to supply chain disruptions which could seriously harm the U.S. “We are facing a critical time,” Shay said, noting that some retailers have already enacted contingency plans to ensure that holiday merchandise will reach store shelves in time.

28 Aug 2012

Potential U.S. East Coast Port Strike on Agenda

Possible ports shutdown at the end of September to be addressed at upcoming Inland Port Logistics Conference informs UBM Global Trade. Current longshore labor negotiations are a hot issue being closely followed by the shipping industry in the U.S. and globally. The Journal of Commerce announce that it will add a session to the agenda of its Inland Port Logistics Conference, Sept 5-6, in Oak Brook, IL, covering this volatile and unpredictable negotiation that impacts everyone from railroads to third-party logistics providers to beneficial cargo owners. Responding to the recent breakdown in talks between the International Longshoremen's Association and United States Maritime Alliance…

06 Sep 2012

US East Coast Labor Conciliator Draws Veil

Statement by FMCS Director George H. Cohen on United States Maritime Alliance & International Longshoremen's Association labor negotiations. " Upon the request of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), the parties have agreed to resume negotiations under our auspices during the week of September 17, 2012. The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, created in 1947, is an independent U.S. government agency whose mission is to preserve and promote labor-management peace and cooperation. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 10 district offices and 67 field offices, the agency provides mediation and conflict resolution services to industry, government agencies and communities.

10 Sep 2012

Container Imports Up Sharply in September

Retail Container Imports to Increase 8.5 Percent in September; Strong Holiday Numbers Expected Despite Threat of Port Strike. Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 8.5 percent in September compared with the same month last year, and strong increases are expected into the holiday season despite talk of a possible strike at East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. “Retailers are bringing in more merchandise for the holiday season this year. The question at some ports is whether longshoremen will be on the docks to unload it,” NRF Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said.

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