US East Coast dockworkers, employer group to restart talks subsequent week

(Reuters) -The Worldwide Longshoremen’s Affiliation and america Maritime Alliance (USMX) are set to renew contract talks on Jan. 7, in keeping with an individual acquainted with the matter.

Talks between the ILA, which represents greater than 45,000 dockworkers throughout the U.S. East and Gulf coast ports, and the employer group are at an deadlock over points associated to automation at port terminals.

Each events signed a tentative deal in October, which gave staff a 62% wage hike over six years, to finish a three-day strike however left points associated to automation unresolved.

One other coast-wide strike at U.S. East and Gulf coast ports looms giant if an settlement will not be reached earlier than Jan. 15, which won’t solely halt billions in commerce but in addition increase inflationary pressures and threaten present provide chains.

USMX had earlier mentioned the know-how at situation doesn’t hurt longshore employment, and added such modernization was essential to maintain U.S. ports aggressive.