By ARABELLA SERRATA
Special to the PRESS
The International Longshoremen’s Association [ILA] recently wrapped up its strike against the U.S. Maritime Alliance [USMX]. The strike lasted from Oct. 1-3 and was centered on their civil rights as workers. The ILA has expressed issues with their pay and their worker’s vulnerability to automated machines. Officials from the Port of Brownsville, the only deepwater port along the United States-Mexico border, says it was unaffected by the event.
“Our members feel underappreciated, especially given the sacrifices they made during the pandemic, keeping ports open and the economy moving. The wage increases in the previous contract were rendered meaningless by rising inflation. Meanwhile, foreign-owned ocean carriers continue to make record profits, imposing outrageous surcharges on consumers and customers. Yet, they balk at the idea of sharing these profits fairly with the ILA,” the ILA stated.
According to its official website, the ILA is adamantly against any automated device that leads to the loss of “jobs or historical work functions.” The ILA stated their employees do not work typical jobs, and their pay should reflect that.
“The Port of Brownsville remains committed to keeping our stakeholders informed about the ongoing negotiations between the International Longshoreman Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd. (USMX).
Please be assured that port operations are scheduled to continue as normal, and we do not anticipate any disruptions. We will provide updates as the situation develops, with the latest information available on our website and social media platforms. Our focus remains on ensuring smooth operations as the leading maritime port for the Rio Grande Valley region,” Jorge Montero, Director of Communications for the Port of Brownsville stated.
The strike ended when the two parties discussed a “historic” 61.1% wage increase. However, the ILA did not immediately accept the raise. USMX would have required a “No-Strike Clause,” according to the statement published on the ILA website. The clause would prevent ILA from advocating in the future. ILA also turned the agreement down because it did not address their concerns with their job security and healthcare benefits.
The statement clarified that the strike has ended, but the ILA is still negotiating.
“We plan to meet with USMX as soon as possible to negotiate the best contract in ILA history,” the ILA stated.