Dock Workers, Port Employers Reach Tentative Deal to Avert New Strike | Global News Avenue

Longshoremen and employers at Eastern and Gulf Coast ports have reached tentative agreements on new contracts, averting a strike could have restarted next week after being postponed in October.

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the American Maritime Alliance, which represents port operators and shipping lines, said late Wednesday the new six-year contract was a “win-win agreement.” They said it would create new jobs, support consumers and businesses and “maintain the U.S. economy as a critical hub for global markets.”

Deal seen as creating jobs while ‘modernizing’ port

“This agreement protects current ILA jobs and establishes a framework to implement technologies that will create additional jobs while modernizing Eastern and Gulf Coast ports to make them safer and more efficient,” the parties said. , and create the capabilities they need to keep their supply chains strong,” said.

The provisional agreement was reached after a period of three days strike October Activities stopped everywhere Before the White House stepped in and obtained permission, many ports Both parties agree to suspend The suspension is until Jan. 15, after the busy holiday shipping season. Estimates of the economic impact of port strikes range from hundreds of millions of dollars to $5 billion per day.

The terms of the agreement are subject to the employer and trade union member Opportunity to review and vote on it. wall street journal Union officials worked to avoid losing jobs to automation after a strike in October was postponed and an agreement was reached for a 62% pay increase over the next six years, reports said on Wednesday.