Negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the US Maritime Alliance (USMX) have stalled over the use of semi-automated rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMGs), with the current contract expiring on January 15, 2025. ILA Vice-President Dennis Daggett criticized RMGs for eliminating jobs and posing national security risks, arguing that they are largely automated and unnecessary for productivity gains. Daggett highlighted past job losses from automation and warned of vulnerabilities to cyberattacks that could cripple US ports and the economy. Without an agreement, a potential strike by 45,000 dockers could disrupt nearly half of US maritime trade.
President-elect Donald Trump has publicly backed the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) emphasizing the need to protect American jobs, stating, “The savings are nowhere near worth the distress it causes,” underscoring his opposition to foreign companies prioritizing automation over US labour.
