Port employers file suit against dockworkers seeking to resume negotiations as strike looms

Employers to East Coast and Gulf Ports filed an unfair labor practice complaint against the dockworkers’ union on Thursday, accusing them of refusing to negotiate ahead of a threatened strike on October 1.

The United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) said it had filed the complaint against the union with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) over what it said was union leadership’s refusal to return to the bargaining table. If the group’s request is granted, the union would be required to resume negotiations.

The International Longshore Association (ILA) and its 45,000 members are preparing for a possible strike that would impact 36 ports on the East and Gulf coasts, which collectively handle more than half of U.S. maritime trade. His current six-year contract expires on Monday, raising the possibility of a strike starting on Tuesday.

“The USMX has made it clear that we value the work of the ILA and have great respect for its members,” the USMX said in a statement announcing the filing of the complaint against the NLRB. “We have a shared history of collaboration and we are committed to negotiations.”

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Charleston Harbor — Port employers accused the ILA union of unfair labor practices and filed a lawsuit to force the union to return to negotiations.

“Due to the ILA’s repeated refusal to come to the table and negotiate a new master contract, the USMX filed an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) complaint with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and requested an immediate injunction – requiring the union to return to bargaining – so that we can negotiate an agreement,” the USMX added.

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The ILA criticized the USMX unfair labor practice it is a “publicity stunt” and countered that the group should have filed suit against its own members for failing to adequately compensate ILA workers.

“USMX’s filing of these charges four days before the expiration of the current master contract clearly illustrates what poor negotiating partners they have been,” the ILA said in a statement. “If the ILA had not engaged in serious and productive negotiations, most local agreements would not have been concluded over the past year.”

What products would be disrupted by a port strike?

Container ship at the Port of New Orleans — East Coast and Gulf Coast ports handle about half of U.S. maritime commerce.

A potential strike at the port Affecting East Coast and Gulf ports would cost the U.S. economy about $5 billion a day, according to a JP Morgan analysis.

If a strike occurs, import and export shipments of various products would be affected.

Ports that would be affected by the strike handled $37.8 billion worth of vehicle imports in the 12 months through the end of June, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.

U.S. economic toll from East Coast, Gulf port strike could run into billions a day, trade expert warns

Chiquita — Three-quarters of U.S. banana imports go through East Coast and Gulf ports that could be affected by the strike.

THE Baltimore Harbor is the nation’s leader in auto shipments, while auto parts are also major imports at other ports on the East Coast and Gulf of Mexico. These ports also lead the United States in shipments of machinery, fabricated steel and precision instruments, according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence.

Agricultural products also represent an important import, since three-quarters of American exports banana imports come from countries like Guatemala and Ecuador, Jason Miller, interim chair of the supply chains department at Michigan State University, told Reuters.

There would also be an impact on the US$18.5 billion beef and pork export industry and the $5.8 billion poultry and egg export sector, shipped in refrigerated containers.

In the pharmaceutical industry, more than 91% of containerized imports and 69% of containerized exports from the United States pharmaceutical products are managed by the ports concerned, according to Everstream Analytics.

More than one in three containers exported from the United States containing life-saving medicines leave the Port of Norfolk in Virginia, while nearly 30% of containerized pharmaceutical imports enter the United States through the Port of Charleston in South Carolina, a noted the company.

Reuters contributed to this report.

Original article source: Port employers file suit against dockworkers seeking to resume negotiations as strike looms