From the Wall Street Journal:

Hoping to avoid the labor strife that plagued U.S. West Coast seaports over the last eight months, managers of East and Gulf coast ports have started talks aimed at a new contract with organized port workers more than three years before the current agreement expires.

The United States Maritime Alliance Ltd., known as USMX, which represents the employers of roughly 15,000 East and Gulf Coast port workers, has opened up the discussions with the International Longshoremen’s Association, the largest union representing East and Gulf coast dockworkers, according to people briefed on the talks. Jim McNamara, an ILA spokesman, confirmed that the union has had “exploratory talks” with management.

Read the rest at the Wall Street Journal