THE International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) union, representing 45,000 workers at major container ports from Texas to Maine, will begin two days of meetings to review wage demands and prepare for a potential strike on October 1.
Formal talks have reached an impasse as the union and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group wrangle over pay, automation, healthcare and retirement benefits, reports Reuters.
A source familiar with the negotiations said the ila has asked for a 77per cent pay bump over the life of the new contract.
Three experts told Reuters the final increase would likely improve on the 32 per cent rise the West Coast longshore union negotiated last year.
ILA International president Harold Daggett has warned that union workers will walk off the job if a new labour agreement is not reached before the current six-year contract expires on September 30.
USMX said in statements it has been trying to set a meeting with ILA to resume talks.
Any work slowdown or stoppage would affect key ports - including New York/New Jersey, Houston and Charleston, South Carolina - backing up goods ahead of the key holiday season and US presidential elections.
Such disruptions would have 'serious ripple effects' on global supply chains already under pressure from Red Sea diversions, said Vincent Clerc, CEO of AP Moller-Maersk, at a recent event in Los Angeles.
Maersk is a USMX member company. When asked about the status of the talks, Mr Clerc said negotiators previously had been able to 'take it from the brink' and reach an agreement.
Shippers that depend on affected ports are not taking chances, and many have brought in goods early to mitigate risk.
The National Retail Federation has urged the two sides to return to the bargaining table, following similar calls by the Retail Industry Leaders Association and American Apparel & Footwear Association.
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Formal talks have reached an impasse as the union and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) employer group wrangle over pay, automation, healthcare and retirement benefits, reports Reuters.
A source familiar with the negotiations said the ila has asked for a 77per cent pay bump over the life of the new contract.
Three experts told Reuters the final increase would likely improve on the 32 per cent rise the West Coast longshore union negotiated last year.
ILA International president Harold Daggett has warned that union workers will walk off the job if a new labour agreement is not reached before the current six-year contract expires on September 30.
USMX said in statements it has been trying to set a meeting with ILA to resume talks.
Any work slowdown or stoppage would affect key ports - including New York/New Jersey, Houston and Charleston, South Carolina - backing up goods ahead of the key holiday season and US presidential elections.
Such disruptions would have 'serious ripple effects' on global supply chains already under pressure from Red Sea diversions, said Vincent Clerc, CEO of AP Moller-Maersk, at a recent event in Los Angeles.
Maersk is a USMX member company. When asked about the status of the talks, Mr Clerc said negotiators previously had been able to 'take it from the brink' and reach an agreement.
Shippers that depend on affected ports are not taking chances, and many have brought in goods early to mitigate risk.
The National Retail Federation has urged the two sides to return to the bargaining table, following similar calls by the Retail Industry Leaders Association and American Apparel & Footwear Association.
SeaNews Turkey
