US shipping: overloads on the horizon!
The remaining negotiations between union (ILA) and employers (USMX), the strike in American ports could resume in mid-January, resulting in the application of overloads by shipping companies.
As a possible resumption of strike in the US ports is emerging for mid-January, shipowners have alreadyannounced that they would apply overloads(EPC, Emergency Port Charge)from 10 January 2024in case of congestion, until the disturbances are completely contained.
In October, a strike paralyzed 36 ports on the East Coast and the Gulf of the United States, from Maine to Texas (cf.Maritime transportation: threat of strike in U.S. East Coast and Gulf ports). If the movement lasted only three days, due to the extension of the framework contract until 15 January between the trade union ILA (International Longshoremen) and the group of employers USMX (United States Maritime Alliance), the port situation has taken several weeks before returning to normal (cf.US ports: dockers returned to work after three days of strike).
Since then, negotiations between the two parties have not yet been completed to reach agreement on theautomation of terminalsthat the USMX wants to develop. LAILA, who strongly opposes this project, received last week a message of support from the future President of the United States, Donald Trump. A significant advantage for the trade union organisation which hopes to obtain a new contract with the USMX before the fateful date of 15 January 2025.