On Thursday, employers negotiating a contract with union leaders at U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports filed a complaint for unfair labor practices against them. They claimed that the union refused to resume negotiations before the threatened deadline.

October 1st strike

The United States Maritime Alliance said that it had filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board due to the refusal of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) to return to bargaining.

It is rare, but not unknown, that employers will make complaints to the NLRB – an independent federal agency responsible for enforcing U.S. Labor Law, especially in relation to unfair labor practices and collective bargaining.

The contract between USMX & ILA, which runs for six years, expires at the end of September.

Companies that depend on ocean shipping are increasingly impacted as this deadline approaches.

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ILA members of 45,000 will go on strike

Close 36 ports, which handle more than 50% of the U.S. ocean commerce, including bananas, meats, auto parts, building materials, and apparel.

Costs and delays could quickly accumulate

cascade

In the weeks leading up to the U.S. Presidential election, the U.S. economic system is under threat.

Already taxed

Global ocean shipping networks

JPMorgan's analysis predicted that a port strike would cost the U.S. economic system.

$5 billion daily

The employer group requested immediate injunctive action - forcing the union to return to bargaining so that an agreement could be negotiated.

The ILA didn't immediately respond to our request for comment.

Harold Daggett, ILA International's President and Chief Negotiator, said in a statement released earlier this week that he had rejected several USMX proposals.

Daggett stated that "they call me multiple times a week to try to get the ILA accept a lowball wage package."

(source: Reuters)