A federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia has dismissed a lawsuit by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) which claimed that the Virginia Port Authority (VPA) interfered with a new contract between the union and a terminal operator.
The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed the case without prejudice under the opinion of the Honorable James K. Walker. Judge Walker dismissed the suit on the basis that the Virginia International Terminals (VIT) violated the terms of its master contract with the International Longshoremen’s Association and further that since VIT is the employer of record, the VPA has no obligation to recognize the union contract.
International Longshoremen’s Association v. Virginia Port Authority et al – Background
On August 26, 2025, The ILA sued the VPA and its chief executive officer, Stephen Edwards, for allegedly violating the contract by forcing new rail crane technology on longshore workers.
The ILA believed that the implementation of new technology and automated equipment could threaten workforce protections, which the union stated was “contentious” before the contract was signed in March 2025 between the ILA and the VIT determining who is responsible for maintaining daily operations of the marine terminals of the VPA.
The ILA argued that the VPA and Edwards exceeded their authority and used 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.”
The Association also argued that it has “repeatedly” raised concerns and filed contractual grievances against VIT regarding contract violations. Consequently, VIT has 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 container efficiently with machine automation and human oversight.
The Association argued that the VPA 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.
ILA sought trial by jury requesting the court to determine if the actions by the VPA and Edwards were illegal. The ILA also asked the court to prohibit the VPA and Edwards from interfering with its union contract or their negotiations, and from interfering with the grievance and dispute resolution procedures.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia Decision
The U.S. District Court (USDC) for the Eastern District of Virginia acknowledged the facts of the case and opined that: The VIT installed automated rail-mounted gantry cranes at the VPA’s Norfolk International Terminal without consulting the ILA, in violation of the terms of the new master contract. Additionally, since VIT is the employer of record, the VPA claimed, among other things, that it had no obligation to recognize the union contract.
International Longshoremen’s Association v. Virginia Port Authority et al
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