In a surprising turn of events that few saw coming, the leadership of the International Longshoremen’s Association and the United States Maritime Alliance announced late Thursday that they had reached a tentative agreement – and that the approximately 50,000 striking workers would be back to work at the ports on Friday.
The agreement brings a quick end to a strike many feared would go on through the holidays. It last less than three days.
Apparently both sides got what they wanted – quickly.
The ILA and USMX (what the management group representing shipping lines, terminal operators and port authorities is called) reached a tentative deal on wages, a $4-per-hour raise for each year of the six-year contract, according to reports.
Other issues still need to be resolved – and the agreement still needs to be ratified by the rank-and-file. But enough progress has been made to get workers back on the job Friday, so they will be able to help ships waiting at sea come to port.
Reaction to the quick settlement came just as quickly as the announcement.
“We are pleased to see that an economic nightmare has been diffused,” NJBIA CEO Michele Siekerka said. “We are thankful to everyone who stayed at the collective bargaining table and found a path forward for the time being.”
The quick settlement will have a bigger impact than just on the ports. Business groups had been calling on the Biden Administration to order strikers back to work – a move that surely would have ramifications in the November elections.
