Discussions between the employers and employees in the US dockworkers’ dispute resumed on 7 January.

The two parties need to reach a deal by 15 January to avert a strike that will be extremely disruptive, affecting roughly half the USA’s gateway ports.

The issue surrounds whether the employers will be allowed to use semi-automatic, rail-mounted gantry cranes at port terminals under the next labour contract.  Last year, International Longshoremen’s Association reached a tentative deal with ocean carriers and terminal operators on a 62% wage increase over six years, suspending a three-day strike but leaving the technology issue unresolved.

The employers maintain that the use of the new machinery does not harm longshore employment, and such modernisation is necessary to keep US ports, and the broader economy, competitive.