ILA, U.S. Maritime Alliance report contract progress

ILA, U.S. Maritime Alliance report contract progress    In a joint statement on Wednesday, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance “expressed optimism on reaching an agreement on a new contract by the end of March 2004,” the parties said. Their current contract expires on Sept. 30, 2004.
   Two days of master contract negotiations in Tampa, Fla., were “productive and helpful,” according to a statement from John Bowers, president of the ILA, and James A. Capo, chairman and chief executive officer for United States Maritime Alliance.
   “There remains a good deal of information that needs to be examined by both sides in order to successfully conclude these negotiations,” Bowers and Capo said.
   Details of the contract proposals were not forthcoming.
   The United States Maritime Alliance is an alliance of container carriers, direct employers, and port associations serving the U.S. East and Gulf coasts.
   The ILA represents waterfront workers in certain ports along the coasts.