A secret meeting was held on Sunday between key members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) to address concerns surrounding automation in ports. The discussions aimed to find common ground before formal bargaining resumes, with a January 15 deadline looming to avoid a dockworker strike. The meeting produced a document focusing on creating human jobs to accompany new port technologies like rail-mounted gantry cranes. While the agreement suggests the USMX is amenable to addressing union concerns, some terminal operators worry about increased labor costs that could affect supply chain economics and inflation. The document indicates that automation must coexist with human operators trained to ensure efficiency and precision.
However, there are concerns about the potential for added jobs resulting in inflated service costs for shippers, which would ultimately be passed on to consumers. Tensions remain as the proposed changes might challenge the previously agreed 62% wage increase, raising questions about job necessity. If no consensus is reached, the issue may escalate to a union technology committee or arbitration. The Daggett family, who lead the ILA, holds significant influence over hiring decisions tied to new technology, fueling speculation about their motivations and control within the negotiations.
