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The ILA held its first strike in nearly 50 years last October amid contentious talks over wages and automation. Getty Images / MARK FELIX / Contributor

Global dockworker unions plan anti-automation gathering in Lisbon

By Greg Knowler

Dockworker unions from around the world will come together in Lisbon, Portugal, on Nov. 5 to“ confront the threat of automation” facing maritime and port workers.

Described as a“ call to action,” the gathering will be closely watched by ocean carriers, shippers and container terminal operators in the US and Europe for signs that global unions are developing a coordinated cross-border capability. Organized by the International Longshoremen’ s Association( ILA) and coordinated by the International Dockworkers Council( IDC), the“ People Over Profit: Anti- Automation Conference” will examine the future of labor in the ocean freight transportation industry.

“ The event will bring together trade unions from around the world to confront the threat of automation driven by economic interests that prioritize profit over human employment,” the IDC said in a statement July 11.“ This conference represents a unique opportunity to strengthen the defense of decent jobs, occupational safety and collective rights at a decisive moment for the future of maritime and port labor.”

The conference intends to develop a shared roadmap and a strategic plan to halt“ the unregulated advance of these technological processes,” the IDC said.

Coordinated cross-border“ solidarity strikes” have yet to be seen among dockworker unions. Dutch union FNV Havens in February called on workers in terminals around Europe to refuse to handle ships diverted from Rotterdam’ s Hutchison Ports’ Delta II terminal in solidarity with its striking dockers, but there were no reports of ships being refused service.

Lightning rod for strikes

Global container terminal operators have been accelerating moves to automate operations using fast-developing AI and 5G technology to handle increasing volumes of cargo while also facing a shortage of labor.

Port automation and new technology have become a lightning rod for union action in the US. Last October, the

ILA led a three-day strike at terminals across the US East and Gulf coasts, the first in nearly 50 years, over wages and concerns around automation.

The following month, talks between the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance( USMX) on a new master contract broke down again due to the union’ s concerns about the use of semi-automated rail-mounted gantry cranes( RMGs) at marine terminals.

ILA President Harold Daggett said in a separate statement about the Lisbon conference that he was“ proud to see this alliance of maritime workers come together in solidarity and strength.”

“ The automation agenda is creeping into every corner of our economy, from transportation to retail to logistics, and it threatens not only our jobs but the very fabric of our communities,” Daggett said.

Automation is less of a hot-button issue in Europe. Several ports are implementing different levels of automation, from semi- to fully automated terminals deploying automated guided vehicles, automated stacking cranes and remotely operated ship-to-shore cranes.

“ This conference represents a unique opportunity to strengthen the defense of decent jobs.”

Europe’ s busiest container gateway, Antwerp-Bruges, is investing heavily in automation, and although this has raised concerns among dockworker unions, Luc Arnouts, vice president of international relations and networks at the port, said deploying new technology is necessary to remain competitive.

“ If I need eight people on a gang to do a job, then I do some automation, I can do the job with four,” Arnouts said.“ But you still need to put the eight men there so four will be sitting here in the corner, earning their money but not doing anything. We feel that discussions [ over automation ] have become more mature, with the unions understanding that keeping the eight people there will, in the end, lead to zero people working at that spot.”

Arnouts said there is a widespread shortage of labor“ all over the place,” which would offset the loss of jobs caused by automation.

email: greg. knowler @ spglobal. com

18 Journal of Commerce | August 4, 2025 www. joc. com