Usmx News

Thomas J. Delaney has been named President of Portwide Cargo Securing Co. Inc., which supplies lashing services throughout the Port of New York/New Jersey. The announcement was made by Christopher Guido, owner of Portwide. Most recently, Delaney served as Senior Director, Sales and Marketing for APM Terminals (North America) Inc., out of the Elizabeth, N.J. office. Delaney joined APM Terminals as Vice President, Labor Relations, in 2006. He was involved with matters related to the ILA Master Contract and the implementation of new technology.

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.

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.

Negotiations between International Longshoremen's Association & U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) broke off abruptly Tuesday afternoon. The union and management said they were going to discuss container royalties, payments that are made to longshoremen based on the weight of containerized cargo. USMX has wanted to cap those payments. Bennie Holland, executive vice president of the ILA, said the union told management it was "willing to extend the contract to Feb. 1 and keep talking if management would be willing to take the container royalty cap off the table and we could show them other ways to accommodate them with other adjustment that would offset" the royalties. "They refused, so right now unless we hear back from them we will be on strike on Dec. 29," he added.

The vote by the ILA's 200-member wage scale committee moves East and Gulf coast ports closer to their first coast wide strike in 35 years. The International Longshoremen's Association President Harold Daggett has been authorized by ILA delegates to call a strike if bargaining impasse not settled before the union's contract expires December 29, 2012. An ILA strike would affect container and roll-on, roll-off cargo covered by the ILA-USMX coast wide master contract. The ILA would continue to work breakbulk cargo and cruise lines that employ ILA labor but are not covered by the master contract. Perishables and military cargo also would be exempt.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Peter I. Keller, President of NYK Line (North America) Inc., has been selected the 2009 Person of the Year by the New York/New Jersey Foreign Freight Forwarders and Brokers Association, Inc. "Peter Keller has significantly impacted the global trade community and demonstrated great leadership in the international transport industry," said Matthew Brauner, Association President. The award will be presented during the 92nd annual dinner at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on January 28, 2009. This event draws nearly 900 guests. The dinner will also feature a sports and entertainment memorabilia auction. Peter Keller was elected to the Governing Board of NYK in Tokyo in April of 2007.