International Longshoremen’s Association President Harold Daggett defended the ILA’s negotiating positions and urged management to resume negotiations when the union’s wage scale committee meets later this month.

Daggett posted a letter on the ILA’s Web site reacting to a statement by James Capo, chairman and CEO of United States Maritime Alliance, who said Daggett was unwilling to negotiate “unless management first agrees to his demands.”

Daggett said the ILA’s current technology provisions must be strengthened, “especially if USMX wants the ILA to agree to a multiyear contract.” When negotiations opened in late March, the USMX suggested a six-year contract.

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