The union representing 45,000 striking U.S. dockworkers at East and Gulf coast ports has reached a deal to suspend their strike until Jan. 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract, a person briefed on the matter says.
The union, the International Longshoremen’s Association, is to resume working immediately at least until January said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the agreement has yet to be signed.
The agreement will allow the union and the U.S Maritime Alliance, which represents the shippers and ports, time to negotiate a new six-year contract. The person also said both sides reached agreement on wage increases, but details weren’t available.
The union went on strike early Tuesday after its contract expired in a dispute over pay and the automation of tasks at the ports from Maine to Texas. The strike came at the peak of the holiday shopping season at 36 ports that handle about half the cargo from ships coming into and out of the United States.
The walkout raised the risk of shortages of goods on store shelves if it lasted more than a few weeks. But most retailers had stocked up or shipped items early in anticipation of the work stoppage.
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Republished with permission of The Associated Press.
3 comments
Tom Palmer
October 3, 2024 at 7:33 pm
I guess that blunts our whiny governor’s premature press event on this issue downstate while President Bidens was landing in Tallahassee to assure Floridians. help was assured. It seems the earlier post has since been taken down.
"E"
October 3, 2024 at 7:44 pm
You Dock Workers and your Union Bosses deserve a Big Thank You for the delay.
THANK YOU!
I would kind of like Y’all to chip in and pay me for those 3 Giant cases of Toilet Paper I purchased at Sams in trying to take care of my family. We all remember the covid toilet paper shortages.
In closing y’all will do much better working with Trump than the current administration.
Thanking you Esteemed Dock Workers in advance for voting Trump.
“E”
Michael K
October 3, 2024 at 8:49 pm
Yeah, sure. Like these folks are going to vote for the union buster. Funny.