Shippers Fear US East Coast Port Strike

Negotiations between the International Longshoreman's Association & US Maritime Allliance may result in deadlock, many shippers predict

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.