--- title: "Port Strike Averted: A Recap of the ILA-USMX Negotiations" description: A tentative agreement between the ILA and USMX has averted a potential port strike, ensuring continued stability for the U.S. supply chain. image: https://today.ftrintel.com/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/01-January/RMU%20Jan%2010.png --- ![](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/01-January/RMU%20Jan%2010.png?width=1600&height=500&name=RMU%20Jan%2010.png) intermodal Rail ports # Port Strike Averted: A Recap of the ILA-USMX Negotiations ![Joseph Towers, Sr. Analyst, Rail](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Staff%20Photos/2024/Joseph%20B%20Towers_Square.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=Joseph%20B%20Towers_Square.jpg) Joseph Towers, Sr. Analyst, Rail January 13, 2025 Port Strike Averted: A Recap of the ILA-USMX Negotiations 3:08   Welcome to a highlight from this week’s episode of FTR’s Rail and Intermodal Update! We're diving into a significant development that has far-reaching implications for the U.S. supply chain—the resolution of the potential U.S. East and Gulf Coast port strike. The good news? A **tentative agreement** has been reached between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), averting the looming threat of a port strike. If you're like me, this comes as a huge relief. Based on the trajectory of prior negotiations, I fully expected another round of port closures next week. Thankfully, that crisis has been avoided—for now. ### **How We Got Here** To understand the significance of this agreement, let’s recap the key events leading up to this moment: 1. **June Breakdown:** Negotiations initially fell apart back in June over the implementation of a system known as **AutoGate**. This automated port technology became a major point of contention, with the ILA expressing concerns over job security and operational impacts. 2. **October Port Strike:** The stalemate led to a **three-day port strike** in October, bringing trade to a halt. After those three days, a tentative agreement on wages temporarily resolved the issue, but other disputes remained unresolved. 3. **Rising Tensions:** As the year progressed, the risk of another strike grew. By November and December, fears intensified, particularly with political factors adding complexity. Notably, when President-elect Trump signaled support for the ILA, a move that reduced the likelihood of Taft-Hartley being used to prevent a prolonged work stoppage. ### **![Intermodal at sunset](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Hero%20Images/Intermodal%20Hero%20Images/Intermodal%20at%20sunset.png?width=762&height=238&name=Intermodal%20at%20sunset.png)A Surprising Resolution** Fast forward to earlier this week, and an unexpected breakthrough occurred: the ILA and USMX reached an agreement. While the details of the new deal haven’t been disclosed yet, its mere existence is a welcome surprise given the prolonged and contentious negotiations. This resolution is a critical win for the U.S. supply chain. A port strike would have caused significant disruptions to rail and intermodal operations, with ripple effects across industries reliant on East and Gulf Coast ports for imports and exports. ### **What’s Next?** Though the immediate crisis has been averted, the pull-forward decisions already made by shippers will likely result in higher-than-average levels of intermodal traffic over the next one to two months, especially given the pull-forward decisions that have also been made surrounding the potential tariffs and retaliatory tariffs between the U.S. and it’s closest trade partners, Canada, Mexico and China. Stay tuned to FTR’s Rail and Intermodal Update for continued coverage as more information emerges. We’ll keep you informed on how this development impacts freight movements and what it means for shippers, carriers, and the broader supply chain. --- **Have thoughts on the port negotiations or questions about their impact on rail and intermodal operations? Let us know in the comments!** [![11 Podcast Graphics - Updated 5.28.24(1)](https://content.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/11%20Podcast%20Graphics%20-%20Updated%205.28.24(1).png?width=1200&length=1200&name=11%20Podcast%20Graphics%20-%20Updated%205.28.24(1).png) ](https://www.ftrintel.com/rail-podcast-0) Check out this episode and more!  Sign up to receive alerts for new episodes. [![FTR blog_spot market insights](https://content.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/FTR%20blog_spot%20market%20insights.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=FTR%20blog_spot%20market%20insights.jpg) ](https://www.ftrintel.com/state-of-freight-today) Don't miss our weekly Spot Market Insights with data from TruckStop and insightful analysis from our experts. [![FTR_SOF Today 1-1](https://content.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/FTR_SOF%20Today%201-1.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=FTR_SOF%20Today%201-1.jpg) ](https://www.ftrintel.com/state-of-freight-today) Want more **free** insightful content?  Check out our State Of Freight page for all our offerings! #RailTransportation #Intermodal #SupplyChainInsights #PortStrike ## Share this post [mailto:https%3A%2F%2Ftoday.ftrintel.com%2Fport-strike-averted-a-recap-of-the-ila-usmx-negotiations](mailto:https%3A%2F%2Ftoday.ftrintel.com%2Fport-strike-averted-a-recap-of-the-ila-usmx-negotiations) ## Keep reading [![](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/July/_Class%208%20July%202026%20blog.png?width=1600&height=500&name=_Class%208%20July%202026%20blog.png) class 8 trucks forecasting ### Class 8 Orders Surge Again as Industry Nears 2026 Production Capacity ](https://today.ftrintel.com/class-8-july-2026) [![](https://today.ftrintel.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Marketing%20Collateral/Blogs/Blog%20images/2026/June/_RMU%20June%2026%202026%20blog.png?width=1600&height=500&name=_RMU%20June%2026%202026%20blog.png) intermodal carload Rail ### Rail Traffic Holds Steady While Intermodal Extends Its Winning Streak ](https://today.ftrintel.com/rmu-june-26-2026) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Joseph Towers, Sr. Analyst, Rail", "url" : "https://today.ftrintel.com/author/joseph-towers" }, "dateModified" : "2025-01-13T21:06:13.615Z", "datePublished" : "2025-01-13T21:06:12.000Z", "headline" : "Port Strike Averted: A Recap of the ILA-USMX Negotiations", "image" : [ "https://today.ftrintel.com/hubfs/social%20images/Blog%20images/2025/01-January/RMU%20Jan%2010.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://today.ftrintel.com/port-strike-averted-a-recap-of-the-ila-usmx-negotiations", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://today.ftrintel.com/hubfs/FTR%20Logos%20and%20Icons/FTR_Logo_Primary_FullColor.png" }, "name" : "FTR | Transportation Intelligence" } } ```