Federal court dismisses ILA complaint over automated cranes in Virginia

A U.S. federal court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) alleging that the Virginia Ports Authority (VPA) and its chief executive violated national labor law by installing automated yard cranes without notifying the union as required under the master contract.

A VPA spokesperson said the authority was “grateful for the court’s careful consideration of the matter,” but offered no further comment. The ILA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The VPA moved to dismiss the complaint in October 2025, arguing the union had known since May 2023 about plans to deploy rail-mounted gantry (RMG) cranes in Norfolk — nearly two years before installation began. The union’s lawsuit, filed last August, said members only became aware as the first cranes were installed in April 2025.

In its ruling issued Thursday, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia said the ILA “appears to have demonstrated” that purchasing the RMG cranes without prior official notification violated the master contract. However, the key issue was contractual structure: the master contract is with Virginia International Terminals (VIT) — not named in the complaint. VIT is a legally separate entity that handles daily operations and directly employs longshore workers.

Under the master contract ratified in March 2025, any new technology implemented at East and Gulf Coast ports must be reviewed by a new-technology committee comprised of the union and maritime employers to determine staffing levels, training requirements and pay rates. Local unions must also be notified so they can negotiate with employers on the new equipment.

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