Negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance have broken down due to disputes over the use of automation at East and Gulf Coast ports. The ILA has suspended discussions after discovering that Maersk and its subsidiary, APM Terminals, employed automated technology at the Port of Mobile, which the union claims violates their existing contract. This has raised concerns about potential job losses due to automation, escalating tensions as the current master contract is set to expire at the end of September. The breakdown in talks has heightened worries about a possible labor strike, which could disrupt cargo flow during a critical shipping period, further complicating global trade already affected by other international issues.
See "Talks to avoid East Coast, Gulf Coast ports labor strike break down, with union alleging Maersk use of automation", Lori Ann LaRocco and Eric Rosenbaum , CNBC, June 10, 2024