The next start of strikes in the ports on the East Coast and Gulf of the United States. The International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), which are respectively the trade unions and employers' parties engaged in negotiations for the renewal of the contract of the workers of these ports, in fact, a preliminary agreement has been reached for a new agreement contract for a duration of six years. Yesterday the parties agreed that the current contract will remain in force until whereas the ILO Payscale Committee will not meet and will schedule a date to vote on the new agreement, while in the meantime, USMX members will be able to ratify the new understanding.

"We are pleased to announce - underlined the two parties in a joint note - that the ILA and the USMX have reached a agreement in principle for a new six-year contract, subject to ratification, thus avoiding any interruption of work from 15 January 2025. This agreement safeguards the current posts of ILA work and defines a framework for the implementation of technologies which will create more jobs by modernising in the ports on the East Coast and the Gulf, making them more and creating the capacity they have to maintain the robustness of our supply chains. This is a win-win arrangement that creates jobs of ILA work, supports American consumers and companies, and maintains the American economy as a key center of the global market".