(NORTH BERGEN/LYNDHURST, NEW JERSEY) – The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year Master Contract.

The two sides agreed to continue to operate under the current contract until the Union can meet with its full Wage Scale Committee and schedule a ratification vote.

The two sides said in a joint statement: We are pleased to announce that ILA and USMX have reached a tentative agreement on a new, six-year ILA-USMX Master Contract, subject to ratification, thus averting any work stoppage on January 15th, 2025.  This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while modernizing East and Gulf Coast Ports - making them safer and more efficient and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.  This is a win-win agreement that creates ILA jobs, supports American consumers and businesses and keeps the American economy the key hub of the global marketplace.”

Details of the new tentative agreement will not be released to allow ILA Rank-and-File-Members and USMX Members to review the final document before participating in a ratification vote.

The two sides agreed to continue operating under their contract - which was extended after a three-day Strike in October shut every major port the Eastern and Southern Coasts of the U.S.

A deal would mark the end of a contentious fight between the Dock Worker Union and their employers over how certain technology can be implemented at the ports, which handle roughly half of all U.S. container volumes.

For More On This Labor News Story, Go To: US Dockworkers, Employers Reach Tentative Deal to Avert Strike And Microsoft Word - 1-8-2025 ILA-USMX JOINT STATEMENT Tentative Agreement Reached on New Master Contract.docx