The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) union is still negotiating with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which includes shipping companies and port operators. The union is demanding, among other things, higher wages, better health insurance and compliance with agreements to limit automation in port operations as it leads to job cuts.
If the parties fail to reach an agreement, the strike will begin at the busiest U.S. ports. About half of all U.S. imports pass through them. JP Morgan estimates that the strike will cost the US economy about $5 billion a day. If the strike goes ahead, it will be the first major strike by port workers in the region since 1977.
The ILA said the USMX has so far responded to the dockworkers' demands with "insulting proposals." USMX says it sees no signs of interest in negotiations from the union and that it has already complained to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) about the ILA's unwillingness to negotiate in good faith.
The ILA claims that USMX has so far responded to the dockworkers' demands with "insulting proposals." USMX says it sees no signs of interest in negotiations from the union and that it has already filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) about the ILA's unwillingness to bargain in good faith. But the NLRB is unlikely to have time to rule on the complaint before Tuesday. Earlier, the White House urged both sides to negotiate, but noted that President Joe Biden would not use his authority to block the strike. | BGNES
