Sixty-two Percent Wage Increase and Automation Protections Highlight Greatest Agreement Ever
NORTH BERGEN, NJ (January 9, 2025) – Now in his fourth term as International President of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and leading his third Master Contract negotiations as the union’s Chief Negotiator, Harold J. Daggett orchestrated the greatest Collective Bargaining Agreement in the union’s 132-year history when a tentative agreement was reached yesterday with United States Maritime Alliance (USMX).
This crowning achievement by ILA President Daggett, who led his union’s 85,000-members through long and difficult negotiations over the past two years, including a three-day coast-wide strike in October 2024, resulted in a package that calls for a 62 percent wage increase, iron-clad protections against automation and semi-automation at ILA ports, and a stronger healthcare and retirement package, among many gains.
“This tentative agreement is both a monumental and historical achievement that came about from hard work and dedication of ILA Wage Scale Delegates, fortified by the support of our entire membership,” said ILA President Daggett. “I want to thank my entire ILA membership for their steadfast cooperation.”
The ILA leader added that support from President-Elect Donald J. Trump was key to the union negotiating this landmark agreement.
“And the solidarity from our global maritime unions, led by the International Dockworkers Council (IDC) and International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) bolstered the ILA’s strength,” President Daggett said.
President Daggett noted that when the contract is ratified by ILA rank-and-file members, they will receive significant increases in wages retroactive to October 1, 2024.
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