ReMA urges resolution of port labor-management standoff

The Washington-based Recycled Materials Association (ReMA) is one of a group of some 260 industry trade associations that has cosigned a letter urging the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) and the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) to reach agreement on a contract before a strike called earlier by the ILA resumes Jan. 15, 2025.

The initial strike by ILA workers against New Jersey-based USMX, which consists of terminal operators and shipping companies active at about three dozen ports in the eastern and southern U.S., ended after the two sides had agreed to some aspects of a potential new contract.

However, ILA Executive Vice President Dennis A. Dagget has indicated port material handling automation remains a contentious issue in the eyes of the union.

The one-page letter is signed by associations that take up an ensuing three-and-a-half pages at the bottom of the correspondence.

“The three-day strike in October had a significant impact on supply chain stakeholders that rely on the East Coast and Gulf Coast ports," the letter reads. "The additional costs from mitigation efforts as well as poststrike resumption are still being felt. Companies have continued to implement mitigation strategies because of the ongoing threat of another strike in mid-January if a new contract is not achieved.

“It is critical that our ports and terminals have the ability to modernize their systems and processes in order to remain globally competitive and be able to handle the continuing rise of trade volumes, both imports and exports, through our ports.”

In addition to ReMA, the American Forest & Paper Association, the Can Manufacturers Institute, the American Chemistry Council, the Vinyl Institute and the Glass Packaging Institute are among the associations with a presence in the recycling or recycled-content products sectors that signed the letter.

“Resolving this labor dispute is crucial to ensuring trade of recycled materials, as approximately 54 percent of U.S. exports of recycled products are traded through the potentially impacted ports,” says Adam Shaffer, ReMA assistant vice president of international trade and global affairs, as quoted in the ReMA News section of the association’s website.

“ReMA will encourage all parties to return to the negotiating table to resolve this dispute and will continue to monitor new developments for our members,” says Kristen Hildreth, ReMA assistant government relations and strategic partnerships, according to ReMA News.