The Dockworkers’ Union, which represents over 45,000 workers, suspended their strike on Thursday until January 15, 2025, to allow the union and the U.S. Maritime Alliance enough time to negotiate a new contract.
The union is to resume work with immediate effect; the strike has been ended temporarily due to a tentative agreement reached between the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies, and the International Longshoremen’s Association, which represents the workers.
A source who pleaded anonymity revealed that the ports have increased the wage offer from 50%, which has lingered for over six years, to 62%, which they have refused to accept. However, the report has not been made official as of the time of this report.
The aggrieved Union embarked on strike action on Tuesday to register their displeasure with the port authority, which has been listening to their complaints. Part of their request was the review of their wage offer and the total removal of automatic cranes, gates, and other contemporary equipment, which they alleged had the capacity to replace humans and cause massive unemployment.
The strike commenced at the peak of the holiday shopping season. The port handles about half the cargo ships entering and leaving the United States. The strike had posed a high risk of shortages for manufacturing goods and services companies across the United States.
The United States President, Joe Biden, commended both parties “for acting patriotically to reopen our ports and ensure the availability of critical supplies for Hurricane Helene recovery and rebuilding.” He said that collective bargaining is a necessary tool for facilitating the building of a “stronger economy from the middle out and the bottom up.”
