UPDATE OCTOBER 4, 2024: The strike, for now, is over. The International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance have agreed to a tentative deal on wages, extending their existing contract through January 15, 2025, to provide time to negotiate a new contract.
UPDATE OCTOBER 1, 2024: This strike took effect on October 1. The information in this blog remains valid, including our recommendations for communicating and limiting the impact upon your employees’ shipments. Please reach out to your Weichert contact with any questions.
The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), representing 45,000 members at three dozen ports from Maine to Texas, plans to strike when their contract with the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) expires at midnight on October 1.
Our Weichert Move Network and our freight forwarding company, Movers International, are working closely with our transportation partners to assess the impact on relocating employees and their shipped household goods.
At minimum, clients and mobile employees can expect and should prepare for significant disruptions and logistical challenges including but not limited to port congestion, shipping delays, increased shipping costs and potential rerouting of shipments to avoid affected ports.
Some proactive steps that can be taken to mitigate the strike’s impact on employee relocations and household goods shipments include:
Communication: Keep open lines of communication with employees, shipping companies, and other stakeholders. Regular updates on the status of the strike and its potential impact on relocations can help manage expectations and reduce anxiety.
Flexibility: Be prepared to adapt plans as the situation evolves. This might involve changing shipping dates, using different ports, or even considering air freight for essential items.
Contingency Plans: Develop contingency plans for various scenarios, such as identifying temporary storage solutions for household goods or arranging temporary housing for employees if their belongings are delayed.
Support Services: Provide additional support to relocating employees, such as offering assistance with temporary housing and ensuring they have access to essential items while waiting for their household goods.
Information on delays may change frequently, but the Weichert Move Network will keep clients informed about the status of individual move schedules and provide updates as soon as they become available. If you have any questions, contact your Weichert account manager.
For more on the possible dockworkers strike, check this article at FreightWaves.
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