1. Why did union reps from the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA) walk away from contract negotiations with the port employers association (USMX) this week?

2. The employers contract with the dockworkers union was up in September. Why did the longshoremen suspend their strike in October when negotiations first broke down? (What did the sides agree to at that time?)

3. a) How much of a pay increase will the 45,000 dockworkers from Maine to Texas receive in this new contract?
b) What needs to happen for this increase to take effect?

4. What assurance made by the port owners (USMX) does the union not believe?

5. What issue is absolutely non-negotiable for the union?

6. The union says the USMX owners are "raking in billion-dollar profits annually." Union boss Harold Daggett said in October he is just trying to get his members what they deserve. What is the average salary of the longshoremen under the contract that just expired in September?

7. In response to ILA accusations that the port owners want to eliminate union jobs, the USMX said, "The USMX has been clear that we are not seeking technology that would eliminate jobs. What we need is continued modernization that is essential to improve worker safety, increase efficiency in a way that protects and grows jobs, keeps supply chains strong, and increases capacity that will financially benefit American businesses and workers alike," it added.
What do you think:
a) If the owners include assurances in the contract that no jobs will be eliminated/replaced by technology/modernization, should the union believe them? Explain your answer.
b) It has been suggested that if the union successfully blocks the East Coast docks from adding technology, shippers will just use other ports or take alternate routes. Can the union "fight progress"? Should they? Explain your answer.