ILA and USMX Announce Tentative Agreement on New Six-Year Master Contract

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have reached a tentative agreement on all items for a new six-year Master Contract. The two sides agreed to continue to operate under the current contract until the union can meet with its full Wage Scale Committee and schedule a ratification vote, and USMX members can ratify the terms of the final contract.

“We are pleased to announce that ILA and USMX have reached a tentative agreement on a new six-year ILA-USMX Master Contract, subject to ratification, thus averting any work stoppage on January 15, 2025,” the two sides said in a joint statement. “This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework for implementing technologies that will create more jobs while
modernizing East and Gulf coast ports – making them safer and more efficient, and creating the capacity they need to keep our supply chains strong.”

“This is a win-win agreement that creates ILA jobs, supports American consumers and businesses, and keeps the American economy the key hub of the global marketplace.”

Details of the new tentative agreement will not be released to allow ILA rank-and-file-members and USMX members to review and approve the final document.

In October 2025, thousands of dockworkers returned to work after reaching a tentative wage agreement between the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA). This ended one of the most extensive work stoppages in decades, and the two parties agreed to extend their current labor contract through January 15 to continue negotiations.

The agreement relieves uncertainty from shippers importing and exporting through the East and Gulf Coast ports. In advice of the strike deadline, many companies had accelerated imports so that they arrived in advance and diverted some shipments through West Coast ports.