‘We are here fighting for our jobs’ strike begins at the port of Wilmington

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) workers are on strike outside the Port of Wilmington to demand better wages.

At midnight on October 1, ILA workers went on strike with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). The contract between the two sides has expired and unionists say they have new demands that must be met.

ILA workers across the country say their wages haven’t been raised in years, even as prices for everything else have gone up. They demand better wages, fair laws and job security.

“Life takes money,” said Gregory Washington, president of ILA Local 1426. “Everyone else is constantly moving forward and we are crawling.”

Washington says workers have been told for years that they will get better contracts, but nothing has changed.

“We waited and waited and waited, and our president said it was time,” Washington said.

However, trade unionists claim that it is not only about remuneration, they are afraid that artificial intelligence and machines will replace their jobs.

“We are here fighting for our jobs, we are here because automation has taken over everything,” Washington said.

Washington says that as technology evolves, employees want to be part of that technology.

“What we’re saying is that we’re being trained to do what needs to be done to keep these machines running. So if you want to replace us with machines, give us jobs where we can keep them,” Washington added.

The two sides remain far apart as the union on Monday rejected an offer from the U.S. Maritime Alliance that reportedly included a 50% wage increase over the next six years.

Washington says union workers also want to be paid for work done during Covid-19. Washington says employees are questioning whether USMX values ​​them.

“Over 100 people died during Covid-19 while we were on these ships and people were at home, sitting in the living room and working from home, so we want something for that,” Washington says.

Depending on how long the strike lasts, it could impact the economy and make life difficult for those trying to recover from the storm’s devastation.

Brian Clark, executive director of North Carolina Ports, released the following statement Tuesday morning:

“The master contract between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) has expired and there has been a work interruption at ports along the US East Coast and the Persian Gulf. The Master Agreement is an agreement between ILA and the carriers and direct employers that make up USMX. North Carolina Ports is not a party to the agreement and is therefore not involved in the negotiations. North Carolina Ports hopes both sides will return to the negotiating table and reach an agreement that will allow all eastern and Gulf Coast ports to resume operations.

North Carolina Ports is aware of the disruption and has developed the following contingency plan. North Carolina Ports employees working in areas affected by the strike will be temporarily reassigned to other areas as necessary.

The Port of Wilmington’s south gate (container) is closed to cargo pickup or delivery until an agreement is reached. There will be no container ship operations until further notice. No intermodal rail freight will be transported on or off rail at the Port of Wilmington. The Charlotte Inland Port is operating as normal. NC Ports extended its southern gate (container) hours over the weekend to help customers and port users before work is suspended.

For general cargo operations, the North Gate Port of Wilmington and the Port of Morehead City will operate on a normal schedule. In both ports, the activities of tenants and general cargo shipyards will continue as normal. There will be no operations on general cargo vessels until further notice.”

Washington told WECT that ILA union workers have a good relationship with the ILA and hope to maintain it in the future.

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