East Coast Dockworkers and Port Operators to Resume Contract Talks as Strike Looms

Negotiations restart January 7 with automation at the center of disputes, as a potential strike threatens supply chains and billions in trade.

The International Longshoremen’s Association United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) will resume contract negotiations on January 7 ahead of the January 15 contract expiration deadline.
A second strike by dockworkers could disrupt major East and Gulf Coast ports, which handle around half of the nation's container volumes, with potential economic losses estimated at $5-10 billion per day.
Automation remains the primary point of contention, with the ILA opposing any expansion of automated port equipment, citing job loss concerns, while the USMX argues automation increases efficiency and job opportunities.
Retailers and importers have been stockpiling goods in anticipation of a potential strike, driving record inbound cargo volumes and higher freight rates on trans-Pacific shipping routes.
President-elect Donald Trump has publicly supported the ILA's anti-automation stance, meeting with union leaders and criticizing automation's impact on American workers.