Biden calls on USMX to “present a fair offer” as longshoremen's strike continues

President Biden is calling on the US Maritime Alliance (USMX) to “make a fair offer” to the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) as a strike at East and Gulf Coast ports enters its second day.

The ILA's collective bargaining agreement expired on September 30, and the union representing 25,000 longshoremen at 14 U.S. ports went on strike on October 1. On the same day, USMX said it had an offer on the table to increase wages by almost 50%. . The ILA responded shortly afterwards, stating that the offer “does not adequately address the demands of our members” and pointing out that some workers would have to wait six years to reach the maximum wage level promised by the USMX.

President Biden expressed his support for the ILA in a statement of his own, stating that “it is only fair that workers who put themselves at risk during the pandemic to keep ports open see a significant increase in their wages. “

“Now is not the time for shipping companies to refuse to negotiate a fair wage for these essential workers while reaping record profits,” Biden added.

The ILA has indicated it would like to increase the hourly wage by $5 each year over the life of the six-year contract. The union also strongly expressed its concerns about automated technology at ports, stating in its recent press release that it “will not accept the loss of jobs and livelihoods for our members due to automation.”