Negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association and their employers represented by the United States Maritime Alliance are set to resume on Jan. 7, as both sides face a mid-January deadline to reach an agreement and avert a potential strike, Bloomberg reported Thursday, citing a person familiar with the negotiations.

A key point in the negotiations is whether the next labor contract will permit semi-automated machinery at port terminals. This issue remains unresolved despite a tentative agreement reached in October. That deal included a 62% wage increase over six years but did not address concerns about automation.

Jonathan Gold, vice president of supply chain and customs policy at the National Retail Federation, wrote in a post Wednesday on X that if they cannot reach a deal, the parties "must do another extension to avoid a strike."

International Longshoremen's Association did not immediately respond to requests for comment from MT Newswires.