The short-lived strike by dockworkers that shut down East Coast ports came to an end late Wednesday when the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance announced they had come to a tentative agreement on wages and an extension of the master contract.
The first ILA strike in five decades saw 45,000 union employees walk off the job and bring container and ro-ro handling to a halt at 36 ports across 14 major marine hubs from New England to Texas.
Rumors of a settlement swirled Thursday, just days after President Joe Biden scolded employers for not bargaining in good faith and urged a resumption to negotiations. The settlement clears a potential major issue for Democrats with the general election just weeks away.
The new deal, which sources close to the talks said came together quickly, provides a pay raise of 61%, or $4 per hour over the six years of the pact, and extends the master contract to Jan. 15, 2025, to allow the sides to negotiate outstanding issues.
In a joint statement, the sides said all current job actions will cease immediately and all work covered under the master contract will resume although the timeline for that was not specified.
The substantial wage increase by employers came as something of a surprise. The ILA had been firm about seeking a wage hike of $5 per hour while terminal operators and shipping lines were offering around $3. The USMX on Wednesday said they were open to negotiating but wouldn’t do it under ILA pre-conditions.
The tentative agreement was reached as the number of vessels waiting outside ports continued to increase and major retailers were forced to wait for their imports amid fears of shortages of medicines, fresh fruits, and other vital goods. Exporters including manufacturers and agri-businesses were also caught in a squeeze waiting for ports to re-open. Container lines were prepping surcharges to account for extended voyages if a longer strike forced them to divert ships to West Coast ports.
Find more articles by Stuart Chirls here.
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