WHAT’S THE LATEST

As of December 17, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) have not reached a new master agreement, and their current contract extension is due to expire on January 15.

WHAT WE KNOW

  • Automation remains the most significant topic under discussion at the bargaining table.

  • The ILA is prepared to strike again if an agreement is not reached by 1/15.

  • It is estimated that for each day the ports are closed, it will take nearly a week of recovery.

WHAT’S NEXT?

As your logistics partner, we are ready and able to pivot quickly. Our team is monitoring the situation closely, hoping an agreement will be made before the expiration of the current contract. In the event of labor disruptions, we’re prepared to implement contingency plans to ensure continuity of our export and import services where an alternative routing is possible.

For critical cargo that must be shipped, clients should consider routing through the US West Coast or temporarily moving via airfreight.

We will frequently communicate and advise on the situation as more details become available. If you have any questions, please reach out to your SEKO representative, or email us at hello@sekologistics.com.