Will the ILA strike in January? Experts weigh in.
Will the ILA strike in January? Experts weigh in.
Industry observers have differing views on the likelihood of a strike, which would add to the logistics hurdles shippers are already facing.
With less than a month before the International Longshoremen’s Association’s contract with the United States Maritime Alliance is set to expire, shippers want to know: Will there be a strike?
A major development in the prolonged negotiations occurred last week when President-elect Donald Trump voiced his support for the ILA’s stance against automation at the ports following a meeting with union leadership. That hasn’t yet led to a new contract, with concerns over another strike growing as the Jan. 15 expiration date for a tentative deal struck in October approaches.
“All in all, the situation points in the direction of another strike,” Lars Jensen, CEO at Vespucci Maritime, said in a LinkedIn post the week before Trump met with the ILA.
A strike would pile on to several other geopolitical issues shippers are looking out for in 2025, including tariff threats from TrumpJensen and other logistics and maritime experts shared their take on whether the ILA will strike in January through a series of interviews, emails and LinkedIn posts. Dive in to learn about the negotiation’s sticking points and potential risks.