International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) Archives - The Loadstar

Ripples from standstill at strike-bound Canadian ports could spread inland

Charlotte Goldstone — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 13:03:50 +0000

Turmoil persists at Canada’s ports, with warnings that this could lead to spikes in road and rail freight, and congestion at ‘Plan-B’ US west coast gateways.
Yesterday, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Ship & Dock Foremen Local 514 began an industry-wide, open-ended strike against all BC Maritime Employers Association (BCMEA) member companies.
The association issued a coast-wide lockout notice in response, effectively shutting down the principal ports of Vancouver ...

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Vessel bunching on USEC slow to clear, as ILA shapes new ‘strategy’

Charlotte Goldstone — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 12:16:45 +0000

The ILA has vowed to continue its “hell-bent” fight against automation as the effects of last week’s three-day strike disrupt supply chains.
The union told its members over the weekend that, while it had negotiated an “unprecedented” 61.5% wage increase offer across six years, it had decided, as a “crucial part of the overall strategy”, not to accept this immediately.
“If we were to accept the wage increase now, we would have ...

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Insurance moves to the fore as US ports start to deal with delayed cargo

Charlotte Goldstone — Fri, 04 Oct 2024 10:42:25 +0000

Despite ending today, the lingering costs of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) strike could leave uninsured US east and Gulf coast shippers with a hefty bill – and even those with cover could be caught out by unforeseen risks.
Patrizia Kern, chief insurance officer at embedded insurance platform Breeze, told The Loadstar the effect on insurance claims would “largely depend on the length and scale of the strike”.
Yesterday, the USMX ...

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Forwarder concern grows over port strike amid a scramble for dwindling airfreight capacity

Alex Lennane — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 15:57:47 +0000

Forwarders have expressed “growing concerns” over the US port strike, which – given the immutable stance of the ILA, combined with a difficult political situation – could drag on, impacting air cargo.
The key for shippers is alternative means of transport or destinations, with air, road and rail expected to come under pressure as shippers struggle to get goods in the right places.
Many forwarders are looking to air freight as a ...

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Laying it on a bit thick: how ‘lines are cashing in on stevedores’ just demands’

Gavin van Marle — Tue, 01 Oct 2024 13:01:51 +0000

A massive port strike has broken out on the US east and Gulf coasts, and with it has come an almighty avalanche of hyperbolic misinformation.
Let’s take the juiciest first: yesterday’s claim by ILA president Harold Daggett that carriers were now charging shippers $30,000 per container.
At the risk of being accused of taking things out of context, here’s the full quote: “The shippers [he means carriers] are gouging their customers that results ...

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There may still be a path to USEC dispute settlement, says ‘optimist’ shipper

Alexander Whiteman — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 11:33:07 +0000

Just days from the start of a US east and Gulf coast port strike, shipper optimism that industrial action can still be averted has left forwarders bemoaning failure to learn from past mistakes.
National Tree Company CEO Chris Butler told The Loadstar that, while the company’s “experts on the ground” had concluded the strike was a “done deal”, he believed a path to a settlement remained.
“Ever the optimist, I tend to ...

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Evergreen chief says transpac contract rates will rise in 2025

Martina Li in Taiwan — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 11:19:11 +0000

Evergreen is to raise its transpacific contract rates for 2025, announced president Wu Kuang Hui on Friday, due to global supply chains being impacted by the impending dockers’ strike on the US east coast.
He said: “The possibility of a strike at these ports is very high. Shippers must prepare in advance. The strike will impact not only the US east coast, but also the global supply chain.”
He added: “Regarding the ...

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ILA chief vows to form global ‘mega-union’ to fight port automation

Charlotte Goldstone — Thu, 05 Sep 2024 12:10:27 +0000

Belligerent US International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) president Harold Daggett has vowed to initiate strikes on 1 October if agreement is not reached with the “far apart” port operators’ United States Maritime Alliance (USMX)
And, he said, he intends to take on all the major carriers by forming a global ‘mega-union’.
Yesterday, the union’s EVP – and his son – Dennis Dagget, told ILA members: “When we first sat down with USMX, ...

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East coast port strike threat grows – and Canadian rail dispute still lingers

Charlotte Goldstone — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 12:25:53 +0000

There will be no rest for North American shippers as one strike ends, because another threatens to “increase delays and drive up costs”.
On Friday, east coast port employers the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) said that, along with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), it had filed a ‘notice to mediation agencies’ with the Federal Mediation & Conciliation Service (FMCS).
This is to inform the FMCS of a dispute between ...

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Asia-Europe spot rates soften, while transpac prices harden as dock strike threatens

Alexander Whiteman — Fri, 23 Aug 2024 12:20:19 +0000

Transpacific container spot rates were in the ascendancy this week as industrial action storm clouds gathered over US east coast ports.
Drewry’s WCI Asia-US east coast spot rate component inched up 1% on the week, to $8,811 per 40ft, which is 157% higher than a year ago.
But the ‘ship has already sailed’ for Asian exporters trying to get their goods through US east coast ports before a potential strike on 1 ...

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