ILA locals authorise a strike vote at three Gulf terminals over automated gate deployment
No date is set, but Houston box volumes are already being quoted with a contingency clause through October.
HOUSTON — Three ILA locals have authorised a strike vote over the deployment of automated gate systems at Gulf terminals, though no date has been set and no vote has been scheduled.
The commercial effect is already visible. Forwarders quoting Houston volumes for September and October are writing contingency clauses into the rate, and two carriers have added a diversion provision to Gulf bookings.
A stoppage would push cargo to the West Coast at exactly the moment the transpacific has capacity to absorb it — which is the one thing that would put a floor under spot rates this quarter.
Ellis Duarte
Covers detention and demurrage disputes and East Coast terminals.Ellis covers detention and demurrage disputes, East Coast terminals and the drayage markets around them.