Port Strike Ends
A major union for U.S. dockworkers and the United States Maritime Alliance agreed late on Thursday to a tentative deal on wages and have extended their existing contract through Jan. 15 to provide time to negotiate a new contract.
The move ends a strike that had snarled East Coast and Gulf Coast ports since the beginning of the week and threatened U.S. supply of fruits, automobiles and other goods. The strike was the first by the ILA since 1977, and it impacted operations at 14 different ports. About 50,000 of the union’s 85,000 members were on strike this week. The union was asking for an increase of $5 per hour for each year of the six-year contract.
ILA wages will increase 61.5% over six years under the tentative agreement. A central conflict over port automation is still under negotiation.
The move ends a strike that had snarled East Coast and Gulf Coast ports since the beginning of the week and threatened U.S. supply of fruits, automobiles and other goods. The strike was the first by the ILA since 1977, and it impacted operations at 14 different ports. About 50,000 of the union’s 85,000 members were on strike this week. The union was asking for an increase of $5 per hour for each year of the six-year contract.
ILA wages will increase 61.5% over six years under the tentative agreement. A central conflict over port automation is still under negotiation.