[150213.EN.SEA] Local Terms Could Scuttle Ptoposed Six-Years US East Coast Docker Deal

LOCAL dock labour agreements in New York-New Jersey continue to threaten what looks like a new six-year contract for 15,000 dockers between International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and US Maritime Alliance (USMX) negotiators.

While the ILA posted details of the agreement on its website, and the USMX said its summary was accurate, there is still scope for disputes to re-ignite over local issues.

The ILA said the agreement is "subject to the drafting of final contract language and acceptance by the ILA membership" and the new master contract will not take effect until all local bargaining is concluded, reported American Shipper.

James Capo, chairman and chief executive officer of USMX, said local negotiations are "progressing", but would offer no further comment.

It is understood that there are 36 individual wage agreements, including contracts involving non-container personnel, which must be settled before the national contract can be ratified by dockers in ports along the east and Gulf coasts of the United States.

The union's 200-strong wage scale committee, which can refuse to ratify the deal, meets on March 12 to decide on whether to recommend the deal to the ILA membership.

New York-New Jersey ILA negotiators and the local employers of New York Shipping Association are still at loggerheads over "archaic" work practices, which refer to no-show and low-show jobs which are numerous and have become an "acquired right" of the union.

USMX also said container royalties had spiralled out of control and has sought to cap them at the 2011 levels of US$211 million and stop paying them to new workers. The union insisted on no change and the new contract guarantees a minimum of $211 million for each of the six years of the contract.

Random drug testing will be used in New York-New Jersey only if the Waterfront Commission agrees to stop testing ILA members. Free healthcare for dockers, which employers had not sought to change, will continue.

ILA spokesman Jim McNamara said the proposed master contract has been enthusiastically received by members of the union during meetings this week by various locals.

Source : SN-TR, 15.02.13.