This story was reported and written by our media partner the Virginia Mercury.
The International Longshoremen’s Association is suing the Port of Virginia and its chief executive officer, Stephen Edwards, for allegedly violating the union’s master contract by forcing new rail crane technology on longshore workers.
ILA believes that the implementation of new technology and automated equipment could threaten workforce protections, which the union said was a “contentious” matter before the contract was signed in March between ILA and Virginia International Terminals (VIT), responsible for administering the daily operations of the marine terminals at the Port of Virginia (VPA).
The association believes the Port authority and Edwards have overstepped their authority, using their influence to allegedly violate the union’s contract and federal labor laws.
“As the new Master Contract has gone into effect coastwide, the Port of Virginia has been the most resistant to complying with the new technology provisions when compared to every other port on the East and Gulf Coasts of the United States from Maine to Texas,” ILA stated in its lawsuit. “Again, the ILA and its affiliated local unions have been informed and believe that this resistance is being directed by defendant VPA, in general, and defendant Edwards, in particular.”
As an example of this dynamic, ILA’s lawsuit stated that in April 2025, members found newly purchased, semi-automated rail-mounted gantry cranes being set up and installed on the North Berth of the Norfolk International Terminal “without any prior notice” to the association, as required by the contract.
The association also stated that it has “repeatedly” raised concerns and filed contractual grievances against VIT regarding the contract violation. VIT has “consistently argued that it is unable to comply with its contractual obligations because “it is VPA—not VIT—that was purchasing, installing, and implementing of all new equipment” used to move containers efficiently with machine automation and human oversight.
Some of the equipment included semi-automated stacking cranes, semi-automated cantilever Rail-Mounted Gantry (RMG) cranes, and semi-automated RMG cranes.
ILA, which is seeking a trial by jury, wants the court to determine if the actions by the Port authority and Edwards are illegal.
The association is also asking the court to prohibit the authority and Edwards from ever again interfering with its union contract or their negotiations, and from interfering with the grievance and dispute resolution procedures.
The association claims that the authority and Edwards violated the contract, which runs from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2030. VPA created VIT because state law prohibits state agencies from working directly with labor unions on agreements about work conditions or worker pay.
VPA operates four general cargo facilities: Norfolk International Terminals, Portsmouth Marine Terminal, Newport News Marine Terminal and the Virginia Inland Port in Warren County. The VPA leases Virginia International Gateway and Richmond Marine Terminal.
According to a recent economic impact study from The College of William and Mary, the Port of Virginia has helped to create approximately 565,000 full-time and part-time jobs, and generates more than $100 billion in total economic impact throughout the commonwealth on an annual basis.
VPA has chosen not to comment on the case, and no court date has been scheduled yet.