On January 8, the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) announced that they had reached a temporary agreement on a new six-year master contract.

Both sides agreed to continue operations under the current contract until the ILA meets with the Wage Committee's full membership for approval votes and USMX members approve the final contract terms.

In a joint statement, the two parties expressed: "We are pleased to announce that the ILA and USMX have reached a temporary agreement on a new six-year ILA-USMX master contract, pending approval, thus avoiding any work stoppages on January 15, 2025. This agreement will create more job opportunities, while modernizing ports along the East Coast and the Gulf of Mexico, making them safer, more efficient, and capable of supporting the strength of our supply chain. It is a win-win agreement that will generate jobs, support U.S. consumers and businesses, and ensure that the U.S. economy remains a key hub in the global market."

The details of the new temporary agreement will not be disclosed to allow union members and USMX members to review and approve the final document.