Port of New York-New Jersey Unveils Detailed Strike Action Plan
The Port of New York-New Jersey, the second-busiest container port in the United States, is ramping up preparations for an impending strike and has urged shippers to halt cargo operations within a week of the union’s set strike deadline. Port Director Bethann Rooney outlined the operational plans during the shutdown in a letter to clients, emphasizing that the port is actively taking steps to address potential impacts.
When the contract between the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) and port employers expires at midnight on October 1, 25,000 members represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association will commence a strike. This agreement covers workers across 30 ports from Maine to Texas, handling goods valued at approximately $92 billion annually. Currently, there are no plans for further contract negotiations between labor and management, with the main areas of contention focusing on wages, benefits, and the automation process at the ports.
The strike action at the Port of New York-New Jersey could significantly impact the national supply chain, particularly in terms of cargo transportation and logistics. The port authorities are reminding shippers to prepare in advance to mitigate potential disruptions to operations.
Last Monday, the union described the latest wage proposal from employers as “stingy,” and USMX claimed that the union is demanding an increase of over 75% in the proposed six-year agreement, a statement that has been disputed.
Few details about the contract proposals have been made public. Both the ILA and USMX did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. In a letter issued, Rooney stated, “It is important that you do everything possible to pick up import cargo before the end of business on September 30, because once the strike begins, there will be no opportunity for any delivery of goods.”
Rooney noted that the port plans to establish an event management team during the shutdown but did not provide immediate details. She added, “No terminal will accept export cargo unless it can be loaded by September 30.” “For any export bookings, please coordinate closely with your ocean carrier, as terminals will not accept cargo for vessels scheduled to arrive after September 30.”
Linkway Freight Limited advised all cargoes owners to prioritize arrangements for refrigerated containers and hazardous materials, as there will be no further monitoring or on-site maintenance after 30th September.
“We expect significant congestion this weekend and on Monday, September 30, as all parties try to move containers from the terminals before a potential shutdown, so we advise early retrieval of containers this week and utilizing all available resources,” Rooney suggested.
Terminal operators APM Terminals, Maher, and Port Newark Container Terminal will extend their gate hours. The last import and export trains are scheduled to operate on Monday, and the port truck service center will also close during the shutdown.
