Catherwood LibraryILR School

The International Longshore Men’s Association represented thousands of maritime workers in the United States. The association has begun negotiations with the United States Maritime Alliance, which represents various ocean carriers and terminal operators. The parties have until mid-May to reach tentative local contract agreements before a master contract needs to be reached in late September. Workers at various ports around the United States have already secured local contracts, such as the ports in Baltimore, New Jersey, and New York. If negotiations are not successful, workers may potentially take strike action, which would significantly disrupt the transportation of cargo. The International Longshore Men’s Association controls the movement of cargo on the East Coast as well as the West Coast. Workers represented by the union have gone on strike since 1977, and this is largely due to the bonuses that workers can earn. The bonuses are based on the amount of cargo that workers process in a year. The union is seeking greater bonuses and significant wage increases in their new contract that will be in place for the next six years.