The details of the United States Maritime Alliance’s (USMX) filing have not been released at this point. In a brief statement the USMX said:

“USMX has been clear that we value the work of the ILA and have great respect for its members. We have a shared history of working together and are committed to bargaining.

“Due to the ILA’s repeated refusal to come to the table and bargain on a new Master Contract, USMX filed an Unfair Labour Practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and requested immediate injunctive relief – requiring the Union to resume bargaining – so that we can negotiate a deal.”

The ILA has responded by calling this move a “publicity stunt”. In its view the “foreign owned companies” represented by the USMX “set up shop at American ports, earn billions of dollars in revenues and profits, take those profits out of country, and fail to adequately compensate the ILA longshore workforce for their labour are engaging in a real “unfair labour practice” and have been getting away with for decades.”

In the union’s view the current situation is the fault of the USMX for being “unprepared” when exploratory Master Contract talks with the ILA began over two years ago.

“USMX filing these charges four days before the expiration of the current Master Contract clearly illustrates what poor negotiating partners they have been,” the ILA said. “If it wasn’t for the ILA engaging in serious and productive negotiations, most of the local agreements would not have been settled over the past year.”

It is understood the NLRB will hear the case with urgency. However, even if the USMX is successful in compelling the ILA to come back to the table there is little sign at this point that the union is going to move from its earlier established “bottom line” in any negotiations.

The details of the United States Maritime Alliance’s (USMX) filing have not been released at this point. In a brief statement the USMX said:

“USMX has been clear that we value the work of the ILA and have great respect for its members. We have a shared history of working together and are committed to bargaining.

“Due to the ILA’s repeated refusal to come to the table and bargain on a new Master Contract, USMX filed an Unfair Labour Practice (ULP) charge with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and requested immediate injunctive relief – requiring the Union to resume bargaining – so that we can negotiate a deal.”

The ILA has responded by calling this move a “publicity stunt”. In its view the “foreign owned companies” represented by the USMX “set up shop at American ports, earn billions of dollars in revenues and profits, take those profits out of country, and fail to adequately compensate the ILA longshore workforce for their labour are engaging in a real “unfair labour practice” and have been getting away with for decades.”

In the union’s view the current situation is the fault of the USMX for being “unprepared” when exploratory Master Contract talks with the ILA began over two years ago.

“USMX filing these charges four days before the expiration of the current Master Contract clearly illustrates what poor negotiating partners they have been,” the ILA said. “If it wasn’t for the ILA engaging in serious and productive negotiations, most of the local agreements would not have been settled over the past year.”

It is understood the NLRB will hear the case with urgency. However, even if the USMX is successful in compelling the ILA to come back to the table there is little sign at this point that the union is going to move from its earlier established “bottom line” in any negotiations.