Excerpts from International Business Times:

Even if ILA members approve the master contract, it only goes into effect if local contract issues specific to individual ports are resolved, issues that include work rules and pensions. None of the local negotiations are as challenging as those of the Port of New York and New Jersey, where labor costs are vastly higher than at other U.S. ports. Negotiators have given themselves until March 1 to agree on tentative local pacts, according to the Journal of Commerce.

The talks aren’t going well, according to a person familiar with the talks, who said there were two reasons for the lack of progress.

One reason has to do with the fact that the USMX was unable to achieve any cost reductions for its members in the master contract.

Another possible reason has to do with pressure on the ILA from the AFL-CIO to take a tough position in local negotiations, the industry source said.

Read the details at IBT