Port Workers Strike Update as Union Agrees to Deal

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) has reached a deal to suspend its strike until January, according to a joint statement released on Thursday.

The statement by the ILA and the United States Maritime Alliance, Ltd., which represents the shippers and ports, said in part that they “have reached a tentative agreement on wages and have agreed to extend the Master Contract until January 15, 2025 to return to the bargaining table to negotiate all other outstanding issues.

“Effective immediately, all current job actions will cease and all work covered by the Master Contract will resume.” According to the Associated Press (AP), the agreement has not been signed yet.

This suspension will provide a temporary respite to businesses and communities dependent on these ports, as the strike had already caused significant disruptions to supply chains. The economic impact of the strike was felt most acutely in industries that rely heavily on the import and export of goods through the affected ports. The extension of the Master Contract is expected to give both parties more time to negotiate terms without further disruption to port operations. Union leaders have stated that this tentative agreement is a positive first step toward achieving their goals.

More than 45,000 dockworkers represented by the ILA went on strike Tuesday morning over demands for higher wages and job security measures, halting activity at 36 ports along the East and Gulf Coasts.

ILA leaders were asking the USMX for a 77 percent increase over a new six-year contract for its represented dockworkers. The alliance had offered a 50 percent increase before workers went on strike.

Newsweek has reached out to the ILA via email Thursday night for additional information.

Democratic presidential nominee and Vice President Kamala Harris celebrated the ILA agreement in a statement on Thursday: “I want to applaud all involved for their efforts.”

“This step indicates progress toward a strong contract and represents the power of collective bargaining,” Harris added. “As I have said, this is about fairness—and our economy works best when workers share in record profits.”

President Joe Biden also reacted to the news Thursday night saying in a statement: “I want to applaud the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance for coming together to reopen the East Coast and Gulf ports. Today’s tentative agreement on a record wage and an extension of the collective bargaining process represents critical progress towards a strong contract.”

Biden continued, adding, “I congratulate the dockworkers from the ILA, who deserve a strong contract after sacrificing so much to keep our ports open during the pandemic. And I applaud the port operators and carriers who are members of the US Maritime Alliance for working hard and putting a strong offer on the table.” Biden noted that the workers, carriers and port operators acted “patriotically” in order for goods to reach the areas affected by Hurricane Helene.

Update 10/03/24, 11:34 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with a statement from Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.