The dock workers’ strike affecting ports on the East Coast and Gulf Coast has been paused for now as leaders of the International Longshoremen’s Association union continue to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, the organization that represents American ports and shipping companies.
According to a joint statement, the two sides in the negotiations reached a tentative wage agreement on Thursday and agreed to extend the current master contract until January 15 to allow time to “negotiate all other outstanding issues.” This agreement will allow some 45,000 dock workers to return to work immediately.
Union leaders did not specify a dollar amount for the tentative wage agreement, but an unnamed insider briefed on the negotiations reportedly told AP that the ports upped their offer from a 50% increase over six years to 62%. However, any wage increase agreement would have to be approved by union members.
Other issues that must still be resolved include a dispute over the automation of tasks at 36 U.S. ports.
Extending the current contract, which expired September 30, to January 15 will allow dock operations to continue as usual throughout the busy holiday season. The workers’ strike, which began Tuesday, did not last long enough to significantly impact product availability on store shelves. Many retailers had stocked up in advance in anticipation of the strike, AP reported.
President Joe Biden applauded the International Longshoremen’s Association and the U.S. Maritime Alliance for “coming together to reopen the East Coast and Gulf ports.”
“I want to thank the union workers, the carriers, and the port operators for acting patriotically to reopen our ports and ensure the availability of critical supplies for Hurricane Helene recovery and rebuilding. Collective bargaining works, and it is critical to building a stronger economy from the middle out and the bottom up,” Biden said in a White House press release.
