Dockworker union in North America ILA ratifies six-year labor contract

The final stamp of approval for a new six-year master contract agreement between the largest union of maritime workers in North America, International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and a group representing employers of the maritime industry in the ports from Maine to Texas, United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), was secured on February 25 as ILA rank-and-file members, working at ports on the Atlantic and Gulf Coast Ports, ratified the agreement. 

The ILA and USMX are now set to formally sign the new six-year agreement on March 11, 2025. Meanwhile, the extension to the master contract will be effective from October 1, 2024, until September 30, 2030.

With nearly all ILA reporting results of the ratification vote, nearly 99% of ILA members voted in favor of the new master contract agreement.

“I am pleased to announce that thousands of ILA longshore workers covered by this Master Contract today have overwhelming supported its ratification with nearly 99 percent in favor, and we now have labor peace for the next six years,” said ILA President Harold Daggett who served as the union’s Chief Negotiator.

“It was a tough contract to negotiate and even took a three-day coast-wide strike in October 2024. The ILA stayed strong and unified throughout and successfully won the greatest contract in ILA history and maybe the strongest Collective Bargaining Agreement ever negotiated by any union.

“Our ILA rank-and-file members are not only the greatest longshore workers in the world, but they are also the strongest, most powerful union members anywhere,” continued President Daggett.  “Their courage and determination helped win them this landmark contract.”

ILA President Daggett described the new agreement as the “gold standard” for dockworker unions globally.

Daggett also praised U.S. President Donald Trump for his assistance helping the ILA achieve this new agreement. 

Following a December 2024 meeting at Mar-A-Lago between President Trump and the ILA’s Harold Daggett and Dennis Daggett, President Trump expressed his full support of the ILA and its position against automation.

Daggett also praised his USMX negotiating counterpart Paul DeMaria, the lead negotiator for management, in helping to bring about a settlement.

“Paul was uniquely qualified to move negotiations in the right direction and his appointment to this new role was instrumental in avoiding a second strike,” he said.