Possible strike threatens port’s success

Listen to this article

The Port of Baltimore has seen an uplifting uptick in business in recent years, from its cruise operation, to cargo containers, to imports and exports of automobiles.

But the port’s immediate success is being threatened by strained negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association — an East Coast and Gulf of Mexico dockworkers union — and the United Maritime Alliance, which represents port management in labor negotiations.

A master agreement between labor and management — meant to protect dockworkers from the increased automation of container ships by setting mandatory gang sizes — was set to expire Sept. 30.

But in August, federal mediators stepped in to manage negotiations, and in late September, a strike was temporarily averted as mediators got both sides to agree to a 90-day contract extension, which takes negotiations through the always-busy holiday season.

It also pushes a potential strike past Election Day — not an accident, said Maryland Port Administration Executive Director James J. White.

“Obviously, the election played into this. I think it’s good news the country won’t be shut down,” White said. “The ILA stretches all the way from Maine to Texas.”

The port administration is an interested observer in negotiations, White said, not a participant. But the lifelong maritime man says if negotiations were limited to Baltimore, there would be no reason to worry.

“The ILA labor here is the best in the nation, and I can support that with key performance indicators,” he said. “If I went out on the pier and talked face to face with the longshoremen, they’ll tell you that they don’t want to go on strike. We’re working more man hours in this port than we ever have before. They’re getting all the work that they want. They don’t want to see a disruption.

“I think that they realize if there is a disruption and private terminals continue to work, cargo’s got to go someplace.”

The private marine terminals at the Port of Baltimore will very quickly start looking like an attractive option to ships waiting in the harbor, White said. He’s hopeful it won’t come to that.

“The short-term relief for us is business as usual, but kicking the can down the road for another 90 days, it’s still the same issues, and they’re difficult issues,” White said. “Technology’s going to replace jobs, and I think that is the biggest hurdle.”

Even if there is a strike, Baltimore may not be hurt as badly as some ports. Local longshoremen told White that some operations would continue because some work is not covered under the ILA’s master agreement.

The news came as a relief to the second-term executive director.

“ILA locals said they would continue doing autos and bulk commodities, as well as cruise,” White said. “If they didn’t agree to cruise, I’d be throwing bags.”