ILA, USMX hold initial talks

ILA, USMX hold initial talks The International Longshoremen’s Association and United States Maritime Alliance (USMX), the management group that negotiates a master contract with the union, said they concluded three days of negotiations in Orlando, Fla.
   The current Master Contract runs until Sept. 30, 2010.
   Richard P. Hughes Jr., ILA president, and James A. Capo, chairman and chief executive officer of USMX, issued a statement in which they said no agreement was reached but characterized the negotiations as “productive and helpful and an important first step in achieving a new pact.”
   They said they “studied economic conditions in the shipping industry” and “have a better understanding of the needs and concerns of ILA members and their employers.”
   Subcommittees of management and union officials will meet in coming weeks for further discussions.
   Details of the ILA’s and USMX’s initial proposals were not made available.