Contract negotiations between the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) ground to a halt Tuesday afternoon, ending two days ahead of schedule. If the parties do not reach an agreement by January 15, dockworkers at ports on the East Coast and Gulf Coast, including Baltimore, could resume strike action.

The union, which represents about 45,000 dockworkers at East Coast and Gulf ports, and the American Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shippers, resumed negotiations this month after a strike ended three days in October. It was the first strike in almost 50 years.

The ILA and USMX have reached an agreement in principle on a 61.5% increase and a longer contractbut job protection against automation is not resolved.

According to separate statements from the USMX and ILA, progress was made on several issues during two days of negotiations this month, but the use of technology and automation remains a point of focus. friction.

“For more than 13 years, our position has been clear: we embrace technologies that improve safety and efficiency, but only when a human being remains at the helm,” the ILA said in a statement. “Automation, whether complete or partial, is replacing jobs and eroding the historic work functions we have fought hard for.

The USMX said in a statement that it “is not pursuing technology that would eliminate jobs.”

“What we need is continued modernization which is essential to improve worker safety, increase efficiency in ways that protect and grow jobs, maintain strong supply chains and increase capacity that will financially benefit American businesses and workers,” the statement said.

It is unclear if or when negotiations will resume.

Changes are coming to the Port of Baltimore, however. President Joe Biden visited the shipping channel two weeks ago will announce awards of nearly $3 billion to ports across the countryincluding $147 million to Baltimore through the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Ports program.

The federal funding aims to improve and electrify port infrastructure, reduce pollution, combat climate change and support union jobs in Baltimore and other cities.

In his speech, Biden called himself “the most pro-union president” and praised the ILA for its wage gains.

“A big congratulations to your fellow longshoremen who have just won a record pay increase. You deserve it, man,” he said.

The president also pledged to push Congress to fund the construction of a bridge to replace the Francis Scott Key Bridge after it collapsed in March.