Report: ILA, USMX Met in Secret Before Start of Official Talks

Representatives with the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) reportedly met in secret two days before official talks were scheduled to resume, in hopes of coming to an agreement on the use of automation at ports ahead of a January 15 strike deadline. 

CNBC reports that ILA and USMX leaders deliberated for eight hours behind closed doors on January 5. Among those in attendance were ILA president Harold Daggett and USMX CEO Paul Demaria, as well as several representatives from Ea…