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Tens of thousands of longshoremen went on strike this week.
BRYAN R. SMITH
- The International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance have come to an agreement.
- Dockworkers and port employers reached a preliminary consensus regarding wages, as stated in a joint announcement.
- The strike will be paused until January to finalize the details of a new contract.
Over 45,000 dockworkers from ports spanning Maine to Texas have agreed to halt their strike until January 15, 2025. They will resume work on Friday while negotiations for their contracts are ongoing, according to a statement released by both the union and the organization representing the ports.
A joint statement from the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance confirmed that both parties had reached a tentative wage agreement and decided to extend the Master Contract until January 15 of next year. Further discussions will take place to address “all other outstanding issues,” as noted in their announcement.
Reports from sources like CNN and the Associated Press were among the first outlets reporting on this development.
The proposed wage increase offered by port employers is set at 62% over six years, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. This marks significant progress after months without movement in negotiations.
This new offer has increased from an earlier proposal of 50%, following intervention from White House officials. If accepted, this would raise hourly wages for dock workers from $39 currently to $63 over several years, according to reports.
The union initially sought a more substantial increase of 77% for their six-year contract period; however, even with this demand met, they would still earn less than many counterparts working at West Coast ports based on information provided by CBS News.
Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association initiated their walkout on Tuesday after failing to reach an agreement with representatives managing shipping lines and port authorities.
A mutual decision was made Thursday for workers to pause their strike until January while they negotiate further details about automation within contracts. The previous contract that expired earlier this week will remain effective during these discussions, CNN reported.
This three-day work stoppage led to closures across East Coast and Gulf Coast ports, significantly disrupting supply chains affecting consumer goods such as fruits and automotive parts.
The escalating economic situation also posed risks that could influence outcomes in upcoming U.S. presidential elections just weeks away from Election Day.
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